South Kalimantan Forest Fires Kill Over a Dozen Proboscis Monkeys

Forest and land fires (karhutla) continue to rage in South Kalimantan (Kalsel), causing not only impacts on humans but also claiming the lives of wildlife. On Sunday (13/9/26), at least a dozen proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), an endangered species, were killed in the fires in Balimau Village, Kalumpang Sub-district, Hulu Sungai Selatan (HSS) Regency, Kalsel. Alamsyah, the Head of Balimau Village, stated that 11 proboscis monkeys were victims. Firefighters and residents found the endangered animals, listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), while attempting to control the blaze in the area. "Ten were adults, and one was a juvenile," he said on Tuesday (15/9/26). The South Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Kalsel) reported that the affected wildlife included 12 proboscis monkeys, one python (Malayopython reticulatus), and one king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah). This location is also a habitat for leaf monkeys (Presbytis frontata) and long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis); their conditions are still being monitored. In South Kalimantan, the intensity of karhutla has been increasing. The local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded 3,256 fires with a total affected land area of 21,696 hectares from January to September 15, 2026. Alamsyah suspects the fire originated from a hotspot in Karangpaci Village, a neighboring village to Balimau. "Balimau and Karangpaci are separated by a river. We didn't expect the fire to reach our village. Perhaps due to strong winds, soot from the other side ignited the already dry vegetation in our area, causing the fire," he explained. The area that first caught fire in Balimau was a sago palm grove (Metroxylon sagu), with flames rapidly intensifying. Firefighters from the village and residents immediately worked to combat the blaze. It is estimated that the proboscis monkeys were in the sago palm area when the fire broke out. Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, many officers and residents were engaged in firefighting efforts. Forest fires in Indonesia are often attributed to human activities, particularly for land clearing for agricultural expansion, such as palm oil plantations. The impact of this fire on the proboscis monkey habitat is significant, highlighting the challenges in protecting endangered species.