West Kalimantan Forest Fires Threaten Wildlife, Pangolin and Snakes Found Dead

Forest and land fires (karhutla) sweeping across West Kalimantan are no longer only threatening human health, but are also claiming victims among the region’s wildlife. The Manggala Agni task force has reported finding a number of animals burnt to death at fire sites in the province.

Acting Head of the Manggala Agni Daops Kalimantan X/Ketapang, Efendi, confirmed that his personnel discovered a pangolin dead while conducting firefighting operations in Ketapang Regency. “Yes, that incident is correct. The animal was found by one of our teams at the location yesterday,” Efendi said when contacted in Pontianak on Friday (21/8/2026).

In addition to the pangolin, Efendi revealed that snakes are the animals most frequently found dead after being trapped by flames. The movement characteristics of these reptiles are thought to make it difficult for them to escape quickly when fire spreads across the ground surface. “So far, the animals most often found dead as a result of forest fires are snakes,” he added.

Nevertheless, field teams have not yet found any casualties among larger species such as orangutans or bears. Efendi explained that both species possess stronger survival instincts compared to smaller animals or reptiles. “As for orangutans or bears, we have not found any so far, because these animals usually have stronger instincts. When they hear the sound of fire from a distance, they quickly move away and leave,” he explained.

Prevention and Innovation Coordinator of Manggala Agni Daops Kalimantan X/Ketapang, Fitria Sri Handayani, detailed that the pangolin was found in Sungai Awan Kiri Village, Muara Pawan District, not far from the Tanjung Pura main road. In addition to vertebrate animals, field teams also frequently encounter damage to insect ecosystems. “So far, pangolins, snakes, and beehives are what we often find dead in the field,” Fitria said.

These findings serve as clear evidence that the impact of West Kalimantan’s forest fires has reached an alarming stage for biodiversity conservation. The fires are not only damaging the environment and disrupting the economic activities of local communities, but are also threatening the survival of animals in the affected areas.