Wildfires threaten Indonesia's orangutans as rescuers evacuate injured apes

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 12:48 · Archive

Wildfires across Indonesia's Borneo island are injuring endangered orangutans, prompting rescuers to evacuate the animals.

Wildfires sweeping across parts of Indonesia's Borneo island have left endangered orangutans struggling to survive, prompting rescuers to evacuate animals found injured, stranded and surrounded by thick haze. A female Bornean orangutan nicknamed Novita was among dozens of apes rescued from wildfires in parts of Sumatra and Borneo in recent months.

Novita was found clinging to a nearly leafless tree as dense smoke billowed across the scorched landscape in the Katune forest in Central Kalimantan province, according to Jamartin Sihite, chairman of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. The palms of her hands and soles of her feet suffered burns, likely sustained when she crossed a burned area while trying to reach a tree. Novita, estimated to be three to four years old, was tranquilized, given oxygen and intravenous fluids, and taken to the rehabilitation centre in Nyaru Menteng.

Once her burns have healed, Novita will be evaluated to determine whether she can climb and survive in her natural environment. Sihite said the foundation remains hopeful she can eventually return to the wild, noting that previously released orangutans missing several fingers have survived in the forest. Forest and land fires in Indonesia have worsened this year as El Niño intensifies a prolonged dry season across Borneo and parts of Sumatra. Water shortages in affected areas have hampered firefighting efforts, though Japan has provided firefighting assistance to the island.

How it is being reported

• Wildfires threaten Indonesia's orangutans as rescuers find injured animalsWildfires sweeping across Indonesia’s Borneo island have left endangered orangutans struggling to survive.Clickorlando · 10 Oct, 11:58
• Wildfires threaten Indonesia's orangutans as rescuers find injured animalsWildfires sweeping across Indonesia’s Borneo island have left endangered orangutans struggling to survive.News4Jax · 10 Oct, 11:58

In this story: Borneo · Sumatra · Central Kalimantan · Indonesia · Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation · Jamartin Sihite · Novita · Japan

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