Nine orangutans rescued from Borneo's fires return to the forest, with three mothers pregnant
Four mothers with their babies and an adult female arrived dehydrated, malnourished and in some cases with burned feet. After months of care, on 29 October they were released into a protected forest in West Kalimantan chosen for its low fire risk. The emergency is not over: 59 orangutans have been rescued in three months.
Mama Ocha arrived at YIARI’s centre with burns on her feet, and so did her baby, Ocha. Rescuers believe they stepped on embers in fire-damaged peatland. On 29 October the pair were climbing trees again in Batu Nyambu Protected Forest, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, along with seven other orangutans rescued from the fires.
Four mothers, four babies and three pregnancies
The group is made up of four mothers with their infants and one adult female, according to International Animal Rescue, the UK charity that supports YIARI. All nine were dehydrated and malnourished when they were found. After treatment and rehabilitation, vets declared them fit to return to the wild, and the final checks turned up a surprise: three of the mothers, Mama Ocha, Mama Pia and Mama Satya, are pregnant.
The crates heading upriver to Batu Nyambu. Photo courtesy of International Animal Rescue. Image: BKSDA/YIARI/International Animal Rescue.
Twelve hours by road, river and on foot
The journey took around 12 hours. Rescue teams and local residents carried the crates deep into the forest, with vets checking on the animals throughout. Local Dayak communities helped with the move and are supporting the protection of the forest.
Their new home covers about 23,000 hectares, with food, water, nesting trees and links to other protected forests. It was chosen after habitat assessments and because it is relatively less exposed to fire.
One of the orangutans heads up into the trees moments after leaving its crate. Photo courtesy of International Animal Rescue. Image: BKSDA/YIARI/International Animal Rescue.
The fire season is not over
The release is good news in the middle of a crisis. West Kalimantan’s conservation agency (BKSDA) and YIARI have rescued 59 orangutans from fire-hit areas in three months; on 19 October the count stood at 51.
“With so much devastation happening in Indonesia right now, this release is giving us hope,” said Gavin Bruce, chief executive of International Animal Rescue. The Bornean orangutan is critically endangered. Teams will keep monitoring the nine on the ground to see how they settle into their new forest.
