KETAPANG (West Kalimantan): Six more orangutans have been rescued from plantations in West Kalimantan after forest and peatland fires cut off access to their natural habitat, bringing the number of orangutans saved from wildfire-affected areas to 15 in the past month.
The latest rescue operations, carried out on Sept 4 and Sept 8 in Pemangkat Village, Simpang Hilir, Kayong Utara, involved two mother-and-infant pairs and two juvenile orangutans.
The rescued orangutans – Mama Nopi and her infant Nopi, Mama Noni and her infant Noni, as well as juveniles Naufal and Nopan – were found roaming mixed plantations after wildfires isolated them from the remaining forest.
The operations were conducted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry through the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), together with the Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia Foundation (YIARI), with support from Yayasan Palung, village forest managers and local residents.
Authorities said a large wildfire, burning just 200 metres from the rescue site, had destroyed the orangutans’ access back to the forest, forcing them to move between plantations in search of food and shelter.
The situation has increased the risk of conflict with people while exposing the animals to smoke, fire and habitat loss.
YIARI operations director Argitoe Ranting said the greatest concern was not only the flames themselves but the loss of forest connectivity.
“What worries us is not only when the fire approaches the orangutans, but when it cuts off their route back to the forest.
“They become trapped in plantation landscapes, moving from one plantation to another in search of food and shelter. This increases the risk for the orangutans and also raises the potential for conflict with people.”
Medical examinations found most of the rescued orangutans in stable condition, although juvenile Nopan had a high fever and required treatment, while Mama Noni showed signs of heat stress and rapid breathing after being rescued with her one– to two-month-old infant.
All six orangutans have since been transferred to YIARI’s Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre for further treatment and monitoring.
Conservation authorities said they would continue monitoring wildfire conditions before assessing whether the orangutans could be safely returned to the wild.
