Mother, infant Orangutan rescued from fires in West Kalimantan
“The expanding forest and land fires in Ketapang District are once again threatening wildlife, prompting our joint team to rescue a mother orangutan and her infant,” YIARI veterinarian Dr. Komara said in Ketapang District, West Kalimantan Province, on Saturday.
According to Dr. Komara, the rescue operation began after the blazes encroached dangerously close to the animals. Their remaining habitat had shrunk drastically, leaving the primates with no safe escape route.
“The mother and infant orangutan had been monitored since mid-June, taking refuge in a community plantation bordering a small patch of forest,” Komara said.
As a preventive measure to protect local wildlife, authorities and conservationists have intensified patrols in several high-risk areas since Tuesday (September 1).
On Thursday morning (September 3), the joint team conducted the evacuation. The mother orangutan, estimated to be 20 years old, was tranquilized and safely secured using a net along with her infant.
An initial medical examination revealed no physical injuries or burns on the mother. After receiving oxygen support while recovering from the anesthesia, the pair was transferred to the YIARI Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.
The male infant, estimated to be less than a year old, appeared active. However, the medical team found mucus and dried discharge around his nose, which is suspected to be a direct result of heavy smoke exposure.
Komara said that prolonged smoke inhalation must be carefully managed, as it can severely impact the primates’ respiratory systems.
“Overall, we found no fire-related injuries on either the mother or the infant. However, their health conditions will be continuously monitored during their stay at the rescue and rehabilitation center,” he added.
YIARI Program Operations Director Argitoe Ranting said the joint team has rescued at least nine orangutans threatened by forest fires in various locations in Ketapang District in less than a month.
Head of the West Kalimantan BKSDA, Murlan Dameria Pane, urged the public to immediately report any sightings of wildlife displaced by the fires to ensure their safe handling.
She also emphasized the importance of preventing land fires to protect both biodiversity and human health.
Related news: Govt allocates Rp5.5 bln for forest fire mitigation in West Kalimantan
Translator: Rendra Oxtora, Uyu Liman