Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Forestry has evacuated a Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) found in weak condition and suspected of being exposed to wildfire smoke near a community oil palm plantation in Ketapang District, West Kalimantan.
Head of the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Murlan Dameria Pane, said fires around wildlife habitats and roaming areas could affect the movement and condition of wild animals.
"Fires not only impact land cover but also have the potential to put pressure on wildlife in the surrounding area," she said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Monday.
She emphasized that monitoring wildlife movements in fire-affected areas was important and expressed appreciation for reports from local residents and cooperation among all parties that enabled the orangutan to receive prompt assistance.
The BKSDA, together with the Indonesian Rehabilitation Initiative Foundation (YIARI), rescued the adult male orangutan after it was found in weak condition at a community oil palm plantation in Sempurna 1 Hamlet, Kuala Satong Village, Matan Hilir Utara Sub-district, Ketapang District, on Sunday (August 30).
The Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) of BKSDA West Kalimantan's Conservation Area Section I received a report about the orangutan at 7:27 a.m. local time and immediately deployed a team to carry out the rescue.
The orangutan had previously been monitored by YIARI's Orangutan Protection Unit (OPU) team near the rescue site on August 16, 2026, when it was still actively moving around. When it was found again on Sunday morning, however, the animal was in weak condition in the community oil palm plantation.
At around 9:13 a.m. local time, the team administered a carefully controlled anesthetic to allow the animal to be safely examined and evacuated. A YIARI veterinarian then conducted a health examination and provided initial treatment, including oxygen and intravenous fluids.
The medical team also collected blood, feces, and hair samples for further examination and implanted a microchip to identify and monitor the orangutan.
At the time of the rescue, a fire was burning in the forested area around the community oil palm plantation, generating smoke. The team also found no water source near the location where the orangutan was found.
Based on initial observations, the orangutan's weak condition was suspected to be related to smoke exposure and dehydration. However, further medical examinations are needed to determine its overall health and the underlying cause of its condition.
After the effects of the anesthetic subsided and the orangutan was deemed fit for transport, the team moved it to the YIARI rehabilitation center for further observation and medical treatment.
The Ministry of Forestry urged people who encounter orangutans or other wildlife near residential areas, plantations, or fire-affected locations not to handle the animals themselves.
People are advised to keep their distance, avoid disturbing or feeding the animals, and immediately report sightings to the BKSDA or local forestry officials.
Pewarta: Prisca Triferna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor : Vicki Febrianto
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