Enviro News Asia, Pontianak — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has rescued 24 wild animals affected by forest and land fires in West Kalimantan over the past month, highlighting the impact of fires on wildlife and their habitats.
The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (Balai KSDA Kalimantan Barat) carried out the rescues with the Indonesian Initiative for Nature Rehabilitation Foundation (YIARI) and other partners between August 1 and September 10, 2026.
The rescued animals came from 18 locations across three districts. They included 15 orangutans, six Sunda pangolins, one proboscis monkey, one slow loris and one Malay civet.
Kemenhut continues to combine wildlife rescue operations with forest and land fire control measures. Conservation officers conduct patrols and respond to reports from residents through designated call centers.
In the latest operation, Balai KSDA Kalimantan Barat and YIARI rescued a female orangutan and her infant in Sungai Awan Kiri Village, Muara Pawan District, Ketapang Regency.
The operation followed a community report about a mother orangutan and her offspring near a plantation area. After monitoring the site, officers found that fire had damaged the surrounding habitat and reduced the forest cover available to the animals.
On September 3, the team evacuated the two orangutans, identified as Mama Man, an approximately 20-year-old adult female, and her seven-month-old male infant, Man. The pair was temporarily transferred to the YIARI Rehabilitation Center for medical examinations and further care.
Four other orangutans were rescued from a community plantation area in Pemangkat Village, Simpang Hilir District, Kayong Utara Regency.
Following another community report, Balai KSDA Kalimantan Barat worked with YIARI, the Palung Foundation and the Pemangkat Village Community Forest Management Institution (LPHD) to monitor the area and locate the animals.
After searching from early morning on September 4, the team rescued four orangutans identified as Noval, Nopan, Mamak Novi and Novi. They were also transferred to the YIARI Rehabilitation Center for examination, treatment, rehabilitation and continued monitoring.
The rescued animals will remain under temporary care until fire conditions around their habitats become safe. Based on veterinary assessments and technical recommendations, authorities will consider releasing the orangutans back into suitable natural habitats once conditions allow.
Murlan Dameria Pane, head of Balai KSDA Kalimantan Barat, said public reports and community awareness play an important role in protecting wildlife affected by forest and land fires.
Residents can report wildlife affected by fires through the following Balai KSDA Kalimantan Barat contact numbers:
Balai KSDA Kalimantan Barat: 0811-5776-767
KSDA Section I – Ketapang: 0811-5670-041
KSDA Section II – Sintang: 0811-5670-042
KSDA Section III – Singkawang: 0811-5670-043
The rescue operations demonstrate that fire management extends beyond extinguishing flames. Protecting wildlife also requires rapid field response, habitat monitoring and cooperation between conservation authorities, rehabilitation organizations and local communities. (*)
