Orangutans suffer in Indonesian smog
They may appear to be healthy, but in large parts of Indonesia covered by smog from forest fires , the orangutans are suffering.
(SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) VETERINARIAN, FIET HAYU SAYING:
"The smog has been going on for almost two months and because of that, some of our orangutans, especially those young ones, are starting to have respiratory tract infections, which was initially detected by symptoms of sneezing, coughing and flu."
Dozens of animals have been affected....so authorites are stepping in....moving them into facilities with cleaner air where they can recover.
The air pollution index in Palangka Raya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, has been at a "dangerous" level for days forcing schools to close this week and leaving thousands of people with respiratory infections…
Indonesia and neighboring countries in Southeast Asia are regularly hit by smoky haze from slash-and-burn clearances of forests for timber and palm oil plantations,,,
But conditions this year have been the worst since 2015 due to an El Nino weather pattern causing an extended dry spell…
And among the worst affected...forest dwellers like the orangutan. These animals will be returned to the forest when it's safe and when they are fully recovered...
