KUCHING: Indonesia’s West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has called on the public to promptly report wildlife affected by the ongoing forest and peatland fires, warning against attempting to rescue distressed animals without trained personnel.
The advisory comes as authorities continue responding to a growing number of wildlife emergencies in Ketapang, where at least nine orangutans have been rescued from fire-threatened areas in less than a month.
West Kalimantan BKSDA chief Murlan Dameria Pane said community reports had become an essential part of wildlife rescue efforts as fires spread across the region.
“Wildlife rescue cannot be carried out by authorities alone. Reports and concern from the public are vital in helping protect animals affected by forest and peatland fires,” he said in a statement.
Murlan urged residents who encounter wildlife near settlements, plantations or areas affected by wildfires to immediately notify BKSDA so trained rescue personnel can assess and respond to the situation safely.
He also advised against handling sick, injured or displaced wild animals, warning that untrained intervention could endanger both people and wildlife.
Members of the public can report wildlife requiring assistance by contacting BKSDA’s Ketapang Wildlife Rescue Call Centre at +62 811-5776-767 or +62 811-5670-041.
BKSDA said timely reports from local communities have become increasingly important as wildfires continue to destroy and fragment habitats, forcing wildlife into plantations and other human-dominated areas in search of food and refuge.
