Enviro News Asia, Kayong Utara — The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut), together with conservation organizations and local communities, has rescued three orangutans affected by forest and land fires (karhutla) in Kayong Utara, West Kalimantan.
The rescue operation was carried out by the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), through its Regional Conservation Area I, in collaboration with the Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI), Yayasan Palung, and local communities represented by the Padu Banjar and Penjalaan Village Forest Management Institutions (LPHD).
The first rescue took place in Sinar Timur Hamlet, Penjalaan Village, after a resident, Ade, reported seeing an orangutan in his oil palm plantation on September 10. The report was subsequently relayed to the authorities, prompting a joint team to deploy to the location on the morning of September 12.
The team tranquilized and rescued a female orangutan estimated to be 20 years old, named “Mama Penja,” along with her one-year-old male offspring, “Penja.”
A medical examination conducted at the site by a YIARI veterinarian found burn injuries on Mama Penja’s hands and feet. The medical team administered treatment and antibiotics and collected medical samples before transferring both orangutans to the YIARI Rehabilitation Center for further care.
Following the operation in Penjalaan Village, the team immediately moved to a second location in Padu Banjar Village. The local LPHD had reported an adult male orangutan entering a plantation and approaching residential areas after surrounding forest areas were burned.
At 12:59 p.m. local time on September 12, the team successfully evacuated the approximately 15-year-old male orangutan. A microchip scan identified the animal as “Kumbang,” an individual that had previously been rescued in February 2022.
Initial examination showed that Kumbang remained in a wild condition and was relatively healthy. However, veterinarians found an old wound believed to have been caused by an air rifle pellet, along with coughing symptoms suspected to be associated with prolonged exposure to dense wildfire smoke.
All three orangutans are currently being kept at the YIARI Rehabilitation Center for observation and further medical treatment. Their release back into the wild has been temporarily postponed until weather conditions improve and the surrounding forest is confirmed to be safe from remaining fire threats.
The rescue operation is being carried out alongside broader efforts to control karhutla across Indonesia. Kemenhut’s monitoring recorded 479 high-confidence hotspots nationwide as of Wednesday evening, September 16, representing a decline of 558 points from the previous day.
Despite the decline in hotspot activity, Kemenhut and joint response teams continue to strengthen field operations because fires and smoke remain a threat in several areas, including wildlife habitats.
BKSDA West Kalimantan and YIARI have recorded the evacuation of 23 orangutans to date. The teams have also rescued nine pangolins, three slow lorises, one proboscis monkey, one palm civet, and one silvered leaf monkey.
In addition to rescue operations, teams continue to monitor wildlife in burned areas and maintain 24-hour medical preparedness to respond to animals affected by fires.
Kemenhut has urged residents not to capture or attempt to evacuate wild animals independently. Anyone who encounters wildlife affected by karhutla is advised to contact the authorities, provide an accurate location, describe the animal’s condition, and document the situation if it can be done safely.
Residents in Kalimantan can contact the wildlife rescue call centers operated by BKSDA West Kalimantan at 0811-577-6767, BKSDA Central Kalimantan at 0811-5218-500, or BKSDA East Kalimantan at 0821-1333-8181. (*)
