Eight endangered orangutans have been safely released into the Batu Nyambu protected forest in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, after weeks of rescue and rehabilitation following devastating wildfires that swept through their native habitat.
Rescue and relocation effort
The animals – three mothers with their infants and two adolescent males – were rescued from the Ketapang and North Kayong regencies, where fires between August and September burned large swaths of forest and forced wildlife onto nearby plantations. According to Heribertus Suciadi, spokesperson for the Indonesian Nature Rehabilitation Initiative Foundation (YIARI), the orangutans showed no burns, open wounds, or broken bones, but they were suffering from malnutrition and dehydration.
Among the rescued were a female known as “Mama Man” and her infant, Man, who had been monitored for months in a small forest patch surrounded by plantations. Expanding fires and heavy smoke cut off their safe route back to larger forest areas, prompting their evacuation in early September. Two additional mother‑and‑infant pairs and two juvenile males were found in similar condition after fires swept villages in the same regencies.
Veterinary care and release site selection
After rescue, the orangutans underwent veterinary examinations and observation at YIARI’s rehabilitation center to ensure they were healthy enough for release. The Batu Nyambu protected forest was chosen because it remains largely intact despite the recent fires and offers abundant food sources, water, nesting trees, and connections to neighboring forests.
“We want to ensure that rescued orangutans are not simply moved from one place to another, but actually have a chance to survive in their natural habitat,” said Argitoe Ranting, YIARI Operational Director, emphasizing the scarcity of suitable protected forests as fires continue to spread.
Wider impact of the fires
Indonesia’s forest and land fires have intensified this year as a strong El Niño pattern prolongs the dry season. Land clearances using fire in Indonesian Borneo and Sumatra, combined with water shortages that have hampered firefighting efforts, have contributed to the worsening situation. Japan has provided assistance to Indonesian firefighters.
The Ministry of Forestry reported that more than 270 wild animals in Indonesia’s part of Borneo have been rescued, rehabilitated, or guided to safer habitats, including 46 orangutans rescued by YIARI. A male orangutan named Sampurna, estimated to be about 20 years old, was found struggling to breathe on a palm‑oil plantation in Ketapang and died shortly after rescue.
Looking ahead
YIARI CEO Karmele Llano Sanchez described the relocation as a “last resort” after the original habitat became unsafe. “These orangutans have been traumatized by the wildfires that devastated their habitat, leaving them displaced. Rescuing them is one of the best ways we can help them survive,” she said.
The successful release underscores the importance of protected forest areas as safe havens for Indonesia’s iconic wildlife. As fire season continues, conservation groups stress the need for stronger fire‑prevention measures, sustainable land‑use practices, and international cooperation to protect both the environment and the communities that depend on it.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
