Indonesia, Sept. 1 -- The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) is prioritizing protection of critically endangered orangutans and their habitats as forest fires threaten the region during the dry season.

"To protect wildlife during the peak dry season and potential habitat disruption, field officers continue extinguishing fires in affected areas," BKSDA official Imam Setyo Hartanto said here Tuesday.

The agency has prepared rescue and relocation measures for orangutans affected by fires, which destroy forests while restricting the primates' movement and access to natural food sources.

Habitat fragmentation often drives orangutans toward human settlements, increasing the risk of conflict. The agency recently res...