Forest Fires Further Devour Orangutan Habitats, Rescue Efforts Continue

Forest and land fires (karhutla) are increasingly encroaching on orangutan habitats in Indonesia. These rare and protected animals are becoming victims, as seen with the orangutan Sampurna in Sungai Awan Kiri Village, Muara Pawan District, Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan. "The condition is very severe. In less than a month, nine orangutans have had to be rescued due to the threat of karhutla," said Argitoe Ranting, Operational Director of Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (Yiari). Silverius Oscar Unggul, Chairman of Yiari, stated in a press release that karhutla not only destroys orangutan habitats but also creates a cycle of conflict that burdens the community and the government. "Land clearing by burning in an uncontrolled manner triggers fires that damage orangutan habitats," he said. When forests burn and become fragmented, orangutans lose food and shelter, eventually being driven into residents' gardens. On the other hand, the community suffers economic losses due to damaged crops and increased fear. "This means that orangutans and the community are both victims of the same practice, suffering economic losses and increased fear." The situation, he added, places a significant burden on the state, from handling animal conflicts, firefighting, field monitoring, to translocation and habitat restoration. Meanwhile, a press release from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry stated that the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA Kalbar), in collaboration with Yiari, has evacuated 23 orangutans and other wildlife, including nine pangolins, three slow lorises, one proboscis monkey, one civet, and one grey langur. The team is also continuing to monitor wildlife in burnt areas and has medical teams on standby 24 hours a day. Kalimantan is a sea of fire, with peatland fires also reported in South Kalimantan. Information Source: Mongabay Indonesia