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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Smoke from West Kalimantan fires leaves orangutan weak in oil palm plantation

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Rescuers evacuated a weak adult male Bornean orangutan named Sampurna from a community oil palm plantation in Ketapang, West Kalimantan.
  • Veterinarians treated the animal with oxygen and intravenous fluids after suspected exposure to thick wildfire smoke and collected samples for further tests.
  • The team fitted Sampurna with a microchip for identification and monitoring after transferring him to a rehabilitation center.

An adult male orangutan named Sampurna was found weak and unconscious in a community oil palm plantation in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, after suspected exposure to thick smoke from forest and land fires.

The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency and the Indonesia Nature Rehabilitation Initiative Foundation evacuated him to the foundation’s orangutan rescue and rehabilitation center. The animal had previously been monitored near the site on Aug. 16, when it was still moving actively.

Fires do not only affect land cover, but also have the potential to place pressure on wildlife in the surrounding area.

— Murlan Dameria PaneThe conservation agency chief described the wider impact of fires on wildlife.

A wildlife rescue team received the report at 7:27 a.m. on Aug. 30. Rescuers sedated Sampurna at about 9:13 a.m. so they could examine and move him safely. A foundation veterinarian provided oxygen and intravenous fluids, then collected blood, feces and hair samples for further examination.

The team also implanted a microchip to identify and monitor the orangutan. Murlan Dameria Pane, head of the conservation agency, said fires can affect wildlife movement and condition, and praised residents and other groups for reporting the animal and helping bring it to safety.

We appreciate the public reports and the cooperation of all parties, which enabled this orangutan to receive help quickly.

— Murlan Dameria PanePane praised the response that led to Sampurna’s rescue.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, 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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