Video of Disoriented Orangutan in Borneo Mine Highlights Deforestation Crisis

Footage of an orangutan wandering in an open-pit coal mine underscores the impact of habitat destruction in Indonesia, where deforestation rates are among the highest globally.

• A video showing a disoriented orangutan in an open-pit coal mine on Borneo has gone viral, drawing attention to the severe effects of deforestation in Indonesia.
• The footage, authenticated by AFP, was taken in late January near the site of Nusantara, Indonesia's under-construction new capital, which has raised environmental concerns among activists.
• Indonesia is home to critically endangered orangutans and has one of the highest deforestation rates globally, driven by mining and other industrial activities.
• Following the video's release, the orangutan was located and relocated to a protected forest area, according to local conservation authorities.
• Environmental advocates warn that continued habitat destruction threatens not only wildlife but also Indonesia's broader ecological balance.

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