VP Gibran Checks Orangutan Conservation in Central Kalimantan Amid Forest Fires

RRI.CO.ID, Palangkaraya – Amid forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming visited the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Thursday, September 10, 2026, as part of his visit to Kalimantan. According to the Vice Presidential Secretariat, Gibran emphasized that efforts to address the fires must not only protect communities but also safeguard the survival of wildlife and the ecosystems affected by the fires.

He was seen holding hands with an orangutan and walking along. He also handed over assistance in the form of medicines and nebulizer equipment.

Gibran also listened directly to input from wildlife conservation workers regarding efforts to address the impact of forest and land fires on wildlife and their habitats. They also stressed the importance of strengthening animal welfare regulations, including through the proposed Animal Welfare Bill.

During the meeting, the Vice President emphasized the importance of collaboration on the ground to ensure that efforts to protect people, wildlife, and their habitats can be carried out effectively. "The government greatly needs collaboration and support from various parties, including communities, volunteers, the public, and foundations," the Vice President stressed.

In addition to providing direct assistance to affected wildlife, the Vice President also highlighted the need for anticipatory measures as ecosystems are disrupted by forest and land fires. According to him, these conditions could alter wildlife movement patterns and increase interactions between animals and humans, making collective preparedness essential to prevent new risks from emerging during the recovery process.

"We also need to anticipate the possibility of wildlife entering residential areas because their habitats have been disrupted by forest and land fires. Please help increase public awareness, particularly to ensure that people do not hunt or harm animals that seek refuge in residential areas," he urged.

The secretariat expressed hope that through collaboration among the government, communities, volunteers, the public, and foundations, the impacts of forest and land fires can be addressed in an integrated manner, from protecting wildlife to restoring their habitats. This effort is also part of maintaining ecosystem balance and ensuring that post-fire recovery can take place sustainably.

Managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, the rehabilitation center was established in 1999 and is one of the largest orangutan care centers in Indonesia. The wildlife conservation workers care for and rehabilitate orphaned orangutans and prepare them for release into forests.