Indonesian authorities and conservation workers have rescued 46 orangutans affected by fires since August, relocating them after their habitats on Borneo's west Kalimantan forests burned.
The Indonesian government and wildlife foundation Yayasan Inisiasi Alam rehabilitated Indonesia's forests said it evacuated eight orangutans, an hour by boat and another two hours on foot. Orangutans were examined by vets. YIARI conservationists checked their health before releasing them in protected forest.
Indonesia is battling wildfires on islands of Sumatra and Borneo, with government warning that blazes could continue until November, aggravated by El Nino dry season and water shortages.
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Among dozens of orangutans affected, a 14-year-old female Bornean orangutan nicknamed Novita, was found sitting on nearly leafless tree as dense smoke billowed across a river in Sungai Putri peatland forest in Central Kalimantan province. Novita, estimated to be 14, has burns on palms of her hands and soles of her feet, likely sustained while crossing burned area, taken to rehabilitation centre. She was tranquilised, given oxygen and intravenous fluids, and healed. Novita will be assessed while her burns heal.
Not all rescued animals survived. A male orangutan believed to be around 20 years old was found struggling to climb and survive in her natural habitat while forest fires raged. Hopeful that she could eventually be released to wild. Conservationists remained hopeful that she could eventually be released to wild. Not all rescued animals have survived. A male orangutan believed to be around 20 years old was found struggling to climb and survive in her natural habitat.
Orangutans are critically endangered in wild only on the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The Bornean is one of three recognised species, according to World Wildlife Fund. The population has declined because of deforestation, wildfires and poaching.
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The Forestry Ministry said wildfires had burned more than 202,000 hectares of land in Indonesia between January and July. The Indonesian Nusantara Atlas project, which monitors forest loss using satellite imagery, estimated nearly 896,000 hectares had burned by end of August. Fires have also caused health crisis, with haze and smoke drifting into Singapore, Malaysia, where schools closed. Smoke has also reached Philippines while Malaysia authorities declared emergency in Sarawak last week.
Indonesia's haze is South Asia's parali moment - transboundary, seasonal, political.
Tags: #Orangutan #IndonesiaFires #Borneo #EINin #WildlifeRescue #YIARI #HazeCrisis #Kalimantan