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Indonesia Rescues Orangutan Mother and Baby from Wildfire Haze

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Outcome reported
  • Indonesian conservation officials rescued a mother orangutan and her one-year-old daughter from wildfire haze in Central Kalimantan on Borneo.
  • A preliminary veterinary examination found no injuries or serious smoke effects, and officials said they could release the animals if they remain healthy.
  • The rescue came as wildfires continued to produce thick smog across parts of Indonesia and neighboring countries.

A mother orangutan clinging to the top of a tree in thick wildfire haze was found carrying a baby during a nighttime rescue operation in Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province.

Conservation officials located the animals on Wednesday after receiving a tip-off. Smoke from nearby burned peatland surrounded the tree, and officials evacuated the orangutans because of the health risks posed by the smog. The burned terrain and darkness made the operation more difficult.

Officials named the estimated 20-year-old mother Raya, after a nearby street, and her one-year-old daughter Rayu. A preliminary veterinary check found that neither animal was injured or seriously affected by the smoke. They were taken to a clinic for observation.

If we don't carry out the rescue, I was concerned for the safety of the orangutan.

· MuriansyahA local conservation agency official explained why rescuers evacuated the animals from the smoke.

“If they are healthy and can be released into the wild immediately, they will be released,” said Heriyanto, an official with Central Kalimantan’s natural resources and conservation agency. The province has been battling wildfires for weeks, with haze affecting Borneo and Sumatra and drifting into Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Authorities in West Kalimantan rescued at least seven orangutans from fire-affected areas last month. A 2016 government survey estimated that about 57,000 orangutans lived on Borneo.

If they are healthy and can be released into the wild immediately, they will be released.

· HeriyantoA Central Kalimantan conservation official described the possible next step after veterinary observation.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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