Orangutans rescued from Borneo wildfires amid heavy haze

Authorities in Indonesia have conducted rescue operations for orangutans amid ongoing wildfires and heavy haze on the island of Borneo. In Central Kalimantan province, conservation officials rescued a 20-year-old mother named Raya and her one-year-old daughter, Rayu, after they were spotted in a tree surrounded by smoke from burning peatland. A preliminary veterinary check-up indicated the pair were not injured and had not been seriously affected by the smoke; they were moved to a clinic for observation with the possibility of future release.

In a separate incident in West Kalimantan, an adult male orangutan named Sampurna died shortly after being rescued from a palm oil plantation. Officials reported that the animal was found in a severely weakened state and died due to respiratory issues. An autopsy suggested lung damage linked to prolonged smoke exposure and acute oxygen deprivation caused by the intense wildfire season.