Endangered Orangutan Rescued From Indonesian Wildfires Battling Respiratory Illness

The Rescue Operation in West Kalimantan

According to field accounts from Reuters, local farmer Jais discovered the orangutan writhing on the ground in a weak state on Sunday morning, Aug. 30, while en route to his farm. “It was very weak, then I gave it water,” Jais stated, noting that the animal was found on a plantation near active fire sites in Borneo’s hardest-hit province.

Residents immediately called for help, and a wildlife foundation—Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI)—arrived at the scene roughly two hours later alongside a veterinarian. By the time responders reached the location, the orangutan had fainted.

Foundation CEO Karmele Llano Sanchez told Reuters that the animal lost consciousness due to oxygen deprivation. “The orangutan got hypoxia because of the very thick smoke in the area,” Sanchez explained.

Veterinary Assessment and Medical Treatment

Komara, the veterinarian attending to the animal, reported that Sampurna did not sustain severe burn-related injuries. However, the orangutan experienced acute breathing difficulties and vomiting.

“We suspected it was suffering from an acute respiratory infection,” Komara stated, as reported by Reuters. Responders administered oxygen through small tubes placed in the animal’s nose while it lay on a net. Medical personnel also provided fluids via an intravenous drip, hanging a makeshift infusion bag from a palm-oil frond.

According to Komara, the rescue team has successfully retrieved seven orangutans displaced or endangered by fires so far this season. Sampurna will remain at a rehabilitation center for continued medical care and will be released back into the wild once fully recovered.

Broader Environmental and Public Health Impact

The rescue unfolds against a backdrop of severe seasonal burning across Indonesia. Wildfires have consumed at least 202,010 hectares of land between January and July, according to Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry figures cited by Reuters. This marks an increase from the 107,465 burned hectares recorded between January and June.

The resulting haze has triggered respiratory illnesses across six provinces on Borneo and Sumatra islands. Smoke accumulation also forced thousands of schools to shift classes online, impacting neighboring Malaysia as well.

Sanchez warned that government intervention must extend beyond immediate fire containment. Authorities must actively prepare for the long-term ecological and public health consequences affecting forests, local wildlife populations, and human communities, according to Reuters.