Conservationists rescue orangutan duo from plantation fire trap

Pontianak, West Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Indonesian conservationists and the YIARI Foundation have rescued a 15-year-old mother orangutan and her infant after they became trapped in a fire-damaged West Kalimantan oil palm plantation, officials announced Sunday.

"The two orangutans were found in Pelang Village, Matan Hilir Selatan District, surviving among just a few acacia trees within an area of approximately 400 square meters surrounded by oil palm plantations," YIARI Program Operations Director Argitoe Ranting said.

Ranting noted that the pair's survival highlights orangutans' resilience in severely degraded habitats when surrounding ecosystems can no longer support them.

Local residents first reported the sighting through the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) hotline on Sept. 16.

A joint team from the Ketapang Region Conservation Section (SKSDA) and YIARI’s Orangutan Protection Unit verified the report the following day, confirming the pair were trapped in a burnt patch with little food.

"When the available area is very small and food sources are inadequate, risks to the orangutans increase significantly," Ranting explained.

Rescuers evacuated the animals on Sept. 18 using a tranquilizer gun to ensure safety.

Medical checks revealed no burns or physical injuries, though the mother suffered a fever of 39.5 degrees Celsius and received intravenous fluids and supplemental oxygen.

Her nursing infant, Lifa, is estimated to be one to two months old.

BKSDA Head Murlan Dameria Pane praised the public's swift reporting and urged communities to alert authorities to distressed wildlife in fire-prone areas rather than attempting captures themselves.

"Reports can be made to the West Kalimantan BKSDA call center at 0811-5670-041 or 0811-5776-767, allowing situations to be handled in coordination with relevant authorities while ensuring safety for both the public and the wildlife," Pane said.

Translator: Rendra Oxtora, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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