Indonesia rescues second orangutan mother and baby from wildfire
JAKARTA: An orangutan mother and her baby, threatened by encroaching wildfires to their habitat in Indonesia, were rescued earlier this week, authorities said in a statement Saturday.
Indonesia has rescued a second orangutan mother and her baby from wildfires threatening their habitat, according to authorities. The Southeast Asian nation has been battling wildfires for weeks, which have affected parts of Borneo and Sumatra, causing smog and air pollution in neighboring countries. The orangutan pair, under observation since July, were evacuated to a rescue center on Thursday as fires approached their habitat in West Kalimantan.
Health checks found no burn injuries on the apes, but veterinarians warned that prolonged smoke exposure can harm their respiratory system. Nine orangutans have been evacuated due to wildfire threats in the past month in West Kalimantan, highlighting the destructive impact of fires on animal habitats. One orangutan died after being rescued last week, with the cause of death linked to smoke exposure, according to the West Kalimantan natural resources conservation agency.
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