7 Orangutans Rescued in Ketapang Amidst Forest Fires

Widespread forest and land fires (karhutla) in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, have severely impacted orangutan populations throughout August 2026. The smoke from these fires has forced many orangutans to leave their natural habitats and enter palm oil plantations and residents' fruit gardens. A total of seven orangutans were rescued during August, according to Heribertus Suciadi, Senior Manager of Media and Communication at the Indonesian Orangutan Conservation Foundation (YIARI), on Monday (31/8/26). The latest incident occurred on Sunday (30/8/26) in Laman Satong Village, Matan Hilir Utara District. An adult male orangutan named Sampurna was found weak by residents near a palm oil plantation. Sarbandi, a staff member from the Ketapang Conservation and Natural Resources Center (BKSDA) West Kalimantan, stated that the orangutan is suspected to have moved from its habitat due to the forest fires. "We received information from the community in the morning and immediately conducted a field check," Sarbandi explained in a written statement on Sunday (30/8/26). Komara, a veterinarian at YIARI, explained that smoke from karhutla can have serious effects on orangutans' respiratory systems. "In cases of severe exposure, especially with dense smoke lasting for several days, orangutans can suffer from respiratory distress and hypoxia (oxygen deficiency)," she added. Sampurna's condition suggests this possibility. Sampurna was evacuated to YIARI's Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Sungai Awan Kiri for examination of his lungs and other internal organs. Previously, on August 27, 2026, a mother and her infant were rescued from a palm oil plantation area in Mayak Village, Muara Pawan District. The team found signs of their nest and evacuated them the following day. These orangutans are being forced to move far from their natural habitats to escape the smoke from the devastating fires. Source: Mongabay Indonesia