Orangutan dies from oxygen deprivation after being affected by wildfire smoke in West Kalimantan

Sempurna, an adult male orangutan, was found unable to stand in a dry ditch near a residents’ palm oil plantation in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. He could move only slightly and was having difficulty breathing.

Residents of Sempurna Hamlet, in Kuala Satong village, found the animal at about 7 a.m. on Aug. 30. The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency, known as BKSDA Kalbar, and International Animal Rescue Indonesia evacuated him and gave him emergency treatment. The team administered oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids before taking him to the rescue group’s rehabilitation center at about 11:30 a.m.

His condition deteriorated. By about 2 p.m., his breathing had become increasingly shallow and his oxygen saturation could no longer be detected. The team performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation after he showed signs of respiratory arrest. Sempurna was pronounced dead at 3:20 p.m.

A necropsy conducted on Sept. 1 found pathological changes in several organs, particularly the lungs, heart and kidneys. The lungs showed congestion and partial atelectasis, especially in the rear lower sections of both lobes. Based on his clinical history and the examination results, the lung changes were suspected to be associated with exposure to smoke from forest and land fires.