Orangutans Face Severe Threat as Fires Spread in West Kalimantan

RRI.CO.ID, Ketapang - Forest and land fires have forced an orangutan mother and her infant into a shrinking patch of habitat in Ketapang Regency, where the pair survived among several acacia trees in an area of only about 400 square meters surrounded by oil palm plantations.

The mother, named Mama Lifa, and her nursing infant, Lifa, were found in Pelang Village, Matan Hilir Selatan Subdistrict, and rescued by the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) in cooperation with the Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia Foundation (YIARI).

“When the available area is very small, and food sources are inadequate, the risks to orangutans increase significantly,” YIARI Program Operations Director Argitoe Ranting said in Ketapang on Sunday, September 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The pair’s condition highlights the risks faced by wildlife when fires destroy or degrade their habitat, including the loss of feeding grounds and safe areas to move.

Mama Lifa and Lifa were first reported by residents through the West Kalimantan BKSDA call center on Wednesday, September 16. A team from the Ketapang Region Natural Resources Conservation Section (SKSDA) and YIARI’s Orangutan Protection Unit (OPU) conducted a field assessment the next morning.

The team found the mother and infant confined to a small patch of trees, with the surrounding area affected by fire and offering insufficient food. The pair were evacuated on Friday, September 18, using tranquilizer darts to safely remove them from the site. They were then taken to a safer location for medical examinations.

Initial examinations found no burns or other physical injuries on either orangutan. However, Mama Lifa had a body temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius and was treated with medication, intravenous fluids, and oxygen.

Dental examinations estimated Mama Lifa’s age at about 15 years, while Lifa, who was still nursing, was estimated to be between one and two months old.

The latest rescue comes less than a month after the death of another orangutan in Ketapang linked to conditions associated with the fires.

In August, an adult male orangutan named Sempurna was found weak and suffering from respiratory distress in a community oil palm plantation in Kuala Satong Village, Ketapang. He was evacuated by the BKSDA and YIARI but died several hours later.

A necropsy found pathological changes in his lungs, heart, and kidneys. The Ministry of Forestry said smoke exposure was suspected of impairing his lung function and causing acute hypoxia, which contributed to his death.

BKSDA West Kalimantan Head Murlan Dameria Pane said the rescue of Mama Lifa and Lifa was made possible by a prompt report from residents.

“The public’s rapid response was instrumental in providing us with initial information, allowing the team to quickly verify the situation and take appropriate action in the field,” Murlan said.

She urged residents to report orangutans and other wildlife found in distress, particularly in areas affected by forest and land fires.

Residents were also advised not to attempt to capture or handle wildlife themselves, as doing so could endanger both people and animals.

Reports can be submitted to the West Kalimantan BKSDA call center at 0811‑5670‑041 or 0811‑5776‑767 for further handling by the relevant authorities and conservation groups. ***