Wildfires Kill 12 Proboscis Monkeys in South Kalimantan
- 15 Sep 2026 09:53 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- Forest fires in Balimau Village, South Kalimantan, killed 12 protected Proboscis monkeys, a python and a king cobra.
- BKSDA is assessing habitat damage and monitoring surviving wildlife while coordinating with local authorities to protect the remaining habitat.
RRI.CO.ID, Banjarmasin - Forest and land fires (karhutla) in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, South Kalimantan, have killed 12 endemic Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), highlighting the severe risk wildfires pose to endangered species living in fragmented habitats.
The incident occurred in Balimau Village within an Other Utilization Area (APL) divided into two separate 2-to-3-hectare parcels. Firefighters and local residents reported the blaze on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Rapidly spreading flames and strong winds burned roughly 80 percent of a community-owned plot used as a movement corridor by the primates. Trapped by the sudden advance of the fire, 12 monkeys along with a python and a king cobra perished in the flames.
South Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) dispatched emergency response teams to inspect the burned ecosystem, handle the animal remains, and check for surviving wildlife, including local silvered leaf monkeys (lutung) and long-tailed macaques. Conservation officers are evaluating land ownership status and collaborating with village officials to prevent further habitat loss and determine necessary rescue protocols.
Head of BKSDA South Kalimantan Agus Ngurah Krisna outlined the preliminary field findings and casualty reports on Monday. "Based on information from the Balimau Village Head, there are approximately 60 Proboscis monkeys in the area, but that population figure still needs to be verified by BKSDA through field monitoring after the fire hit the protected species' habitat, so, there are approximately 12 Proboscis monkeys that died, along with one python and one king cobra that were also burned," Agus said in Banjarmasin on Monday, September 14, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
"The habitat is indeed fragmented, so it is not a single continuous stretch of habitat or a unified ecosystem, but divided into separate plots, limited habitat conditions, combined with a fairly large fire accompanied by strong winds, are suspected to have prevented the Proboscis monkeys in the area from escaping the flames in time," Agus added regarding the 2-to-3-hectare parcels.
Addressing post-disaster procedures and ongoing monitoring, Agus emphasized inter-agency coordination to protect remaining wildlife.
"BKSDA South Kalimantan has handled all recovered Proboscis monkey carcasses by burying them, and if indications of death due to other factors such as shooting are found, the carcasses will be brought for examination by a veterinarian, the BKSDA team is still checking landscape conditions and land status in the APL area to determine subsequent handling steps, while coordinating with local administrations, village officials, and the public to safeguard the habitat of these protected animals," Agus explained. ***
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