BKSDA-YIARI Rescue 15 Orangutans in One Month Due to Forest Fires

Bengkayang (ANTARA) - The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) together with the Indonesia Nature Rehabilitation Initiative Foundation (YIARI) has rescued 15 individual orangutans affected by the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla) within the last month.

YIARI Program Operational Director, Argitoe Ranting, stated that fires do not only pose a threat when flames approach wildlife, but also when they sever orangutan access to their natural habitats.

“What we worry about is not just when the fire approaches the orangutans, but also when the fire cuts off their access to the forest. They eventually become trapped in plantation landscapes and move from one plantation to another to find food and shelter,” he said in Ketapting on Thursday.

Most recently, he noted, the team rescued six individual orangutans from a mixed plantation area owned by residents in Pemangkat Village, Simpang Hilir District, North Kayong Regency, West Kalimantan, during two evacuation operations on 4 and 8 September 2024.

The six orangutans were evacuated after the team received reports regarding the presence of animals moving around the residents’ plantations. This situation occurred after fires in the surrounding area severed the orangutans’ access to the remaining forest blocks.

Meanwhile, the General Chairperson of YIARI, Silverius Oscar Unggul, stated that the foundation supports government efforts through the Ministry of Forestry and BKSDA West Kalimantan in responding to the impact of forest and land fires on wildlife.

“YIARI fully supports the government’s efforts, in this case, the Ministry of Forestry through BKSDA West Kalimantan, in responding to the impact of forest and land fires on wildlife,” he said.

The Head of BKSDA West Kalimantan, Murlan Dameria Pane, stated that forest and land fires cause disruptions to wildlife’s access to food sources and their roaming range.

“Preventing forest and land fires remains the primary choice. However, once fires have occurred, community involvement in detecting and reporting the presence of affected wildlife becomes a vital part of managing the impact,” he said.

He expressed hope that all elements of society would immediately report any sightings of wildlife leaving their habitats, particularly in areas affected by or threatened by fire.