Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forest and land fires (karhutla) in Ketapang, West\nKalimantan, in August 2026, have not only threatened vegetation cover\nbut also forced wildlife out of their natural habitats.<\/p>\n
An orangutan mother named Mama Yuni, along with her two offspring,\nYuni and Pura, were evacuated on 21 August after fires threatened their\nhabitat and severed their movement corridors. The trio has been\nmonitored within the community plantation area of Tanjungpura Village\nsince the beginning of 2026.<\/p>\n
Several days later, an adult male orangutan named Sampurna was found\nin a weakened state in a plantation in Laman Satong Village. He is\nsuspected of suffering from respiratory issues after being exposed to\nthick smoke from the forest fires for several days.<\/p>\n
These two incidents demonstrate that the impact of forest fires\ncontinues long after the vegetation has burned. Habitat destruction can\ndrive wildlife into plantations or residential areas in search of food\nand shelter, ultimately increasing the potential for encounters and\nconflicts between humans and animals.<\/p>\n
Silverius Oscar Unggul, Chairman of the Indonesia Nature\nRehabilitation Initiative Foundation (YIARI), stated that recurring\nfires exacerbate the destruction of orangutan habitats and drive animals\ninto local plantations.<\/p>\n
The Ketaprag case shows that managing forest fires cannot merely be\nreactive. The key is to translate early detection information into\npriority action, especially when threats emerge in areas of high\necological value.<\/p>\n
Habitat outside protected areas<\/p>\n
The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is classified as Critically\nEndangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).\nThis species faces immense pressure due to habitat loss and\nfragmentation.<\/p>\n
In Habau Village, Tabalong Regency, South Kalimantan, the landscape\nof habitat potentially serving as orangutan territory spans\napproximately 3,000 hectares. This area is located within Other Use\nAreas (APL), outside of formal conservation zones. The periodic\ndiscovery of nests indicates that the area is still being utilised by\norangutans.<\/p>\n
Local governments and the South Kalimantan Natural Resources\nConservation Agency (BKSDA) are working to protect this landscape\nthrough proposals for preservation areas.<\/p>\n
The example in South Kalimantan demonstrates that biodiversity\nprotection cannot rely solely on national parks or conservation areas.\nHabitats outside these zones must also be maintained, as they serve as\nvital living spaces and essential components of ecosystem\nconnectivity.<\/p>\n
While evacuation remains necessary when wildlife faces direct\nthreats, relocation does not restore the destroyed habitat.<\/p>\n
The IUCN Species Survival Commission guidelines on orangutan\nconservation prioritise in-situ protection (within their original\nhabitat). Translocation may be performed under specific conditions, but\nit is not a substitute for long-term habitat protection.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the rescue of individual animals must go hand-in-hand with\npreventing habitat destruction. Fires that are extinguished early can\nreduce the likelihood of wildlife losing their homes and encroaching\nupon human settlements.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/2026-forest-fires-saving-wildlife-protecting-their-homes-1788239069", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }