Orangutan rescued from fire zone in Indonesia's Borneo, battles respiratory illness

Live updates

1. 14d ago

   Male orangutan rescued from West Kalimantan wildfires with respiratory illness

   Residents, activists, and authorities in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province rescued an adult male orangutan named Sampurna on Saturday. The animal was found in a weakened and critical state on a resident's plantation, struggling to breathe due to smoke from surrounding forest fires. The Forestry Ministry evacuated the orangutan, who is now battling a respiratory illness caused by the Kalimantan haze. This rescue comes as wildfires continue to engulf central Borneo and threaten the primary habitat of the species.

   Why it matters

   Wildfires in Kalimantan pose a severe risk to orangutans by destroying their only major habitat in Indonesia. The smoke and haze from these fires cause acute respiratory distress in wildlife. This specific rescue highlights the ongoing struggle to protect endangered primates from environmental disasters.

   What is confirmed

   • An adult male orangutan was rescued from a resident's plantation in West Kalimantan on Saturday.
   • The orangutan is suffering from a respiratory illness and was found struggling to breathe due to wildfire smoke.
   • The Forestry Ministry evacuated the weakened animal.
   • Wildfires are currently affecting forests in Kalimantan and central Borneo.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The orangutan's name is Sampurna.

   What to watch next

   • Medical updates on Sampurna's respiratory recovery
   • Reports on the total number of orangutans displaced by the Kalimantan fires
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. Reuters — Orangutan rescued from fire zone in Indonesia's Borneo, battles respiratory illness
   2. وكالة صدى نيوز — Forest Fires in Indonesia Show No Mercy Even to Orangutans
   3. ua.news — Orangutan affected by forest fire smoke rescued in Borneo — Channel NewsAsia
   4. The Jakarta Post — Burning Kalimantan forests put orangutans at risk
   5. ANTARA News — Forestry Ministry evacuates weak orangutan amid wildfire smoke
   6. The Bali Times — Orangutan Rescued After Forest Fire Smoke Leaves Him Struggling to Breathe
   7. Tempo.co English — Who Is Sampurna, the Orangutan Rescued from Kalimantan Wildfire?
   8. South China Morning Post — Orangutan in Indonesia battles respiratory illness as wildfire engulfs central Borneo
   9. says.com — Farmer Finds Smoke-Choked Orangutan Amid Kalimantan Haze
   10. World Animal News — Adult Male Orangutan Rescued In Critical Condition As Fires Burn In West Kalimantan, Indonesia
   11. Yahoo — Video shows orangutans moved to rehabilitation centre, not evacuated from Indonesian wildfires
   12. www.aol.com — Borneo orangutans under threat as wildfires tear through their only major habitat in Indonesia
   confidence 90%