# Orangutan health impacts from West Kalimantan forest fires

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/orangutan-health-impacts-from-west-kalimantan-forest-fires
> Updated: 2026-09-19T06:46:58.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Forest and land fires in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, have caused significant distress to local orangutan populations. In early September, the death of an adult male orangutan named Sampurna due to respiratory distress and acute hypoxia highlighted the severe health risks posed by heavy smoke exposure.

Following this, on September 18, conservationists and the YIARI Foundation successfully rescued a 15-year-old mother orangutan and her infant from a small patch of trees surrounded by burnt land in a palm oil plantation. While the rescued animals did not have physical burns, the mother required medical treatment for a fever and supplemental oxygen.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-19: Orangutans rescued from fire-damaged plantation in West Kalimantan

A mother orangutan and her infant were rescued from a fire-damaged palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, by conservationists and local authorities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/orangutans-rescued-from-fire-damaged-plantation-in-west-kalimantan

### 2026-09-05: Orangutan death in West Kalimantan highlights forest fire health risks

The death of an orangutan named Sampurna due to smoke-induced hypoxia in West Kalimantan highlights the urgent need for a ‘One Health’ approach to manage forest fire risks for both wildlife and humans.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/orangutan-death-in-west-kalimantan-highlights-forest-fire-health-risks

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Cite as: Orangutan health impacts from West Kalimantan forest fires. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/orangutan-health-impacts-from-west-kalimantan-forest-fires