Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:20 PM

BKSDA sends rescue team after 12 proboscis monkeys die in fire

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Imam H, Rahmad Nasution

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) deployed a wildlife rescue team after receiving a report that 12 proboscis monkeys had died in a forest and land fire.

BKSDA South Kalimantan Head Agus Ngurah Krisna Kepakisan said the agency immediately followed up the report by sending a wildlife rescue team to inspect the site.

“We immediately ordered the wildlife rescue team to Balimau Village, Kalumpang Subdistrict, Hulu Sungai Selatan District, to conduct a field inspection,” he said in Banjarbaru on Friday.

Upon arrival, the team coordinated with village officials and residents before searching along the river, where they found 12 proboscis monkeys affected by the fire.

Agus said the examination confirmed that all 12 monkeys had died from burns. Their carcasses were then buried in the presence of village officials and residents.

Initial information indicated that 10 proboscis monkeys had died, but the field inspection found 12 affected animals, all of which were confirmed dead from burns.

The fire affected about nine hectares of land. The team also found another group of proboscis monkeys that had survived in the surrounding area.

“We found 32 monkeys from the same group still alive in another area, on the opposite side of the fire site,” Agus said.

Based on the village chief’s account and the field inspection, the fire was suspected to have started outside the monkeys’ habitat before strong winds carried the flames into the area.

“The village chief said the fire did not originate there. It was suspected to have spread from elsewhere after being carried by strong winds,” Agus said.

Local residents and the village government have worked to protect the area, including installing warning signs since 2016 and sharing conservation activities through social media.

The BKSDA South Kalimantan Office expressed concern over the deaths of the proboscis monkeys, a protected species and an icon of the province.

The agency said protecting their habitat from forest and land fires requires broader public attention and cooperation.

“We are deeply concerned, especially because proboscis monkeys are protected and an icon of South Kalimantan. We hope environmental groups will help protect wildlife,” Agus said.

The agency estimates South Kalimantan had about 3,700 proboscis monkeys in 2025. About one-third lived in conservation areas, while two-thirds lived outside them.

The 12 monkeys affected by the Balimau fire were in an other-use area (APL), which is land owned by the local village.

Going forward, the BKSDA South Kalimantan Office will continue mapping APL areas that serve as wildlife habitat.

The effort will include outreach with village chiefs, stronger wildlife rescue center call-center services, and efforts to establish new resort-based preservation areas.

The measures are intended to strengthen wildlife habitat protection outside conservation areas without changing the ownership status of community land.

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