Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) recorded that a total of 254 individual wild animals have been handled in natural disaster response efforts throughout 2026, up to Tuesday, September 29, 2026. This handling is focused on saving wildlife threatened by forest and land fires (karhutla) in various regions across Indonesia.
Rescue measures undertaken include evacuation, medical examination, rehabilitation, translocation, and returning animals to their natural habitats. Among the species successfully handled by officers are Bornean Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, Pangolins, Slow Lorises, Leopard Cats, Silvery Lutungs, and Sun Bears.
These wildlife rescue operations are taking place amid a surge in national hotspots, which rose to 893 points according to SiPongi satellite monitoring. The highest concentrations of hotspots were observed in South Sumatra with 266 points and Central Kalimantan with 132 points.
To suppress the spread of fires and protect wildlife corridors, the government has readied 61 aircraft units for water bombing operations and Weather Modification Operations (OMC). Ground handling has also been reinforced by Manggala Agni alongside joint personnel, particularly in peatland areas prone to holding smoldering embers.
The Ministry of Forestry urges members of the public who encounter injured wildlife or animals straying from their natural habitat not to handle them independently for safety reasons. Residents are asked to immediately report sightings to the nearest Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) or to the Ministry of Forestry’s Karhutla Command Post. (*)
