Gold miners encroached on 14 hectares of Indonesia’s orangutan refuge in three years

Illegal gold mining is encroaching on Indonesia’s Jantho forest reservation, a refuge used to rehabilitate critically endangered Sumatran orangutans rescued from the illegal trade.

Mining activities have destroyed approximately 14 hectares of the forest over three years. Conservationists say the encroachment places the orangutans’ habitat at severe risk and are urging the government to intervene.

Toxic runoff from the mining also threatens the surrounding Krueng Aceh River, putting both local communities and wildlife at risk.