A Rhinoceros Hornbill Perches Amid Thick Haze from the Tanjung Puting Forest Fires

A rhinoceros hornbill was seen perched on the end of a tree branch in Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan, where forest and land fires are currently burning. The poignant scene was set against a deep orange sky shrouded in smoke.

The rhinoceros hornbill, or Buceros rhinoceros, is one of Kalimantan’s iconic birds and is known locally as the tingang. The species plays an important role in biodiversity and is also part of the cultural identity of people in Central Kalimantan.

Rhinoceros hornbills depend heavily on forests with large trees, which provide nesting sites. Habitat damage caused by fires could disrupt their living areas and reduce the availability of food.

The threat of fires in Tanjung Puting National Park is also a concern because the conservation forest is home to many wild animals, including the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Fires and smoke covering the forest could place additional pressure on animals whose survival depends on a healthy ecosystem.

Handi Nasoka, head of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency’s (BKSDA) Region II office in Pangkalan Bun, said the impact of forest and land fires threatened not only orangutans but also many other kinds of wildlife.

Handi said smoke was a concern because animals also need air to breathe. Smoke covering forest areas therefore requires attention, particularly if its effects spread to residential areas.

“As well as smoke-related harm, fires that reach wildlife habitats can damage shelter, reduce animals’ roaming areas and disrupt food availability. These impacts can add to the pressures on animals that depend on forests to survive,” he said, as quoted by detikKalimantan on Friday (23 October 2026).

Haze from the fires has also been reported across several areas of Pangkalan Bun. The situation shows that fires are not only a problem within forest areas, but can also affect the environment and activities of nearby communities.