Forest fires in Kalimantan threaten orangutan populations

Ongoing forest and land fires in Kalimantan are significantly impacting protected wildlife, including the confirmed death of an adult male orangutan named Sempurna in West Kalimantan. In response, the Indonesian National Police (Baharkam Polri) has deployed Search and Rescue (SAR) teams to Central Kalimantan to assist in the search, evacuation, and protection of orangutans and other wildlife from the fires and resulting smoke inhalation.

In a separate conservation effort in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni released two male orangutans, Adil and Gigih, back into their natural habitat. The two individuals had previously been rescued from a palm oil plantation. The Minister emphasized that rescue and release efforts must be accompanied by stronger commitments to forest security and habitat preservation to ensure the long-term survival of the species.