Wildfires force rescue of orangutan mother, baby in West Kalimantan

A mother orangutan and her baby were rescued from a wildfire in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province on September 3, after conservationists warned that the fires are endangering wildlife by depriving them of food and shelter. The orangutans were found in a plantation area near a forest and have been monitored since July. Preliminary health checks found no burn injuries on the pair, but veterinarians are closely monitoring their condition due to potential respiratory damage from prolonged smoke exposure.

This is the ninth rescue of orangutans due to wildfire threats in Ketapang district in less than a month, according to Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI) operational director Argitoe Ranting. Wildfires are not only destroying forests but also taking away animals' shelter and food, Ranting said. The rescue comes as Indonesia grapples with widespread wildfires that have left parts of Borneo and Sumatra smoky, causing air pollution in neighboring Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

An orangutan died after being rescued last week, with a necropsy suggesting smoke exposure as the cause of death. These incidents highlight the increasing danger wildfires pose to Indonesia's endangered orangutan population as fires increasingly threaten their natural habitat.