KUCHING: Orangutans at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and Matang Wildlife Centre have shown no signs of being affected by the current haze.
Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s (SFC) General Manager, Abang Arabi Abang Aimran, said the animals were not displaying any symptoms or unusual behaviour linked to the deteriorating air quality.
“So far, none of our orangutans at either Semenggoh or Matang has shown any symptoms or signs of abnormality due to the current haze situation,” he said when contacted today.
He was responding to concerns over whether Sarawak’s orangutans could suffer the same fate as those affected by thick smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia.
An adult male orangutan named Sampurna was reportedly found collapsed near a fire zone in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, after suffering respiratory distress believed to have been caused by smoke inhalation. It was subsequently reported to have died.
Abang Arabi said SFC was nevertheless not taking the situation lightly, with additional precautionary measures and daily monitoring being carried out at both wildlife centres.
“We are not taking anything for granted. Extra precautions have been put in place, and monitoring is being conducted daily,” he said.
Abang Arabi explained that conditions in Sarawak were currently not as severe as those in parts of Indonesia, where wildlife had been directly exposed to dense smoke generated by nearby forest fires.
“Our situation is not as serious as that in the neighbouring country, where wildlife is directly affected by smoke or thick haze coming from forest fires,” he added.
SFC had earlier said it was prepared to deal with wildlife injuries and respiratory distress arising from forest fires or extreme haze.
Its preparations include emergency equipment and trained personnel, including veterinary officers, as well as cooperation with the Department of Veterinary Services, private veterinary centres and licensed private wildlife facilities.
