Dehydrated, emaciated orangutan rescued by East Kalimantan BKSDA
The East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has rescued an emaciated male orangutan that was found isolated in a plantation in Menamang Kanan Village, Kutai Kartanegara Regency.
“The rescue of this 20-year-old orangutan was carried out after we received an emergency report regarding the appearance of wildlife within a company’s operational area,” said the Head of BKSDA East Kalimantan, M. Ari Wibawanto, in Samarinda on Thursday.
The report regarding the presence of the protected primate was first received by the BKSDA East Kalimantan Call Centre on Sunday (13/9).
The animal’s physical condition, which appeared weak and increasingly concerning, prompted the rescue team to move quickly to the orangutan’s location in the Muara Kaman District.
“The BKSDA East Kalimantan Wildlife Rescue Unit, together with partners from the Conservation Action Network (CAN) and company management, responded to the report on Monday (14/9),” said Ari.
River flows around the natural habitat were reported to have dried up completely, triggering a crisis in the availability of drinking water and natural food for the wildlife.
“Upon evacuation, the physical condition of this male orangutan was very thin, with a weight of only between 25 to 30 kilograms, significantly below normal size,” Ari noted.
The adult male showed strong indications of severe dehydration due to the reduced supply of drinking water and the declining quality of forest vegetation in the surrounding area.
After being secured from the location, the unfortunate primate was immediately evacuated to a care facility to receive intensive medical treatment.
Health monitoring stages are being conducted regularly until the stamina and metabolism of the endemic Kalimantan primate are declared to have improved.
Once the critical period has passed, the orangutan is scheduled to undergo a further rehabilitation process until it is ready to be returned to its original habitat in the wild.
“This rapid synergy proves that a shared commitment can provide new hope for the survival of wildlife against the threat of drought,” Ari emphasised.
BKSDA East Kalimantan urges all parties to continue reporting the presence of protected wildlife to prevent potential conflicts and maintain the sustainability of the natural ecosystem.