Indonesian Forest Fires Threaten Wildlife and Environment

Conservationists in Indonesia have warned that fires set to clear land have killed and injured hundreds of endangered orangutans. Environmentalists are also concerned the burning of rainforest and peat bogs is contributing to global warming.
Widespread fires in Indonesia have claimed millions of hectares of land this year on Sumatra and Kalimantan - the Indonesian part of Borneo - destroying sensitive wildlife habitat and spewing out a thick haze that has choked neighboring countries. The area destroyed this year was some of the only remaining habitat left for orangutans, a protected species with a rapidly declining population.
The only great apes living outside Africa, orangutans can only be found on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, which is divided between Indonesia and Malaysia.
Willie Smits, coordinator of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, says time is running out for the endangered primates.
(Resource : http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-11-13-voa22.cfm)

Kim Jin ah