Indonesia’s Ketapang Wildfires Leave Orangutan Sampurna Struggling to Breathe in Thick Smoke
JakartaHits.id – A male orangutan named Sampurna was rescued from a community oil palm plantation in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, after prolonged exposure to thick smoke from forest and land fires left the animal weak and suffering from respiratory distress.
The adult orangutan was found on Sunday, August 30, 2026, in an area affected by forest and land fires. Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry said the rescue was carried out by the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency, or BKSDA, together with the Indonesian Initiative for Nature Rehabilitation Foundation, or YIARI.
According to the ministry, the Wildlife Rescue Unit of BKSDA West Kalimantan’s Conservation Section I received a report about the orangutan at 7:27 a.m. local time and immediately dispatched a rescue team. The animal was found in a community oil palm plantation in Dusun 1 Sempurna, Kuala Satong Village, North Matan Hilir District, Ketapang.
Local reports identified the orangutan as Sampurna after residents discovered him in a severely weakened condition. The animal was subsequently treated by YIARI veterinarians for respiratory problems believed to be associated with dense wildfire smoke.
Orangutan Found Weak in Plantation
The orangutan was initially reported by local residents early Sunday morning. Sarbandi, a staff member of BKSDA West Kalimantan’s Conservation Section I in Ketapang, said the team found the animal in a weak condition after checking the reported location.
“This morning we received information from the community about the presence of an orangutan around the plantation,” Sarbandi said.
“We immediately checked the area and found the orangutan in a weak condition,” he added.
The animal’s appearance in the plantation is believed to be linked to the impact of the fires and smoke affecting its surrounding habitat.
Sarbandi said the fires may have caused the orangutan to move away from its habitat and into the plantation area.
“It is suspected that due to the forest and land fires, the orangutan moved away from its habitat and then ended up in the plantation area,” he said.
Smoke Exposure Causes Respiratory Distress
YIARI’s veterinary team provided emergency treatment after finding Sampurna suffering from breathing difficulties.
The initial examination found no open wounds or burn injuries on his body. Instead, the team suspected that prolonged exposure to dense smoke had affected his respiratory system.
The veterinarian team administered oxygen and intravenous fluids before the orangutan was evacuated for further treatment.
Komara, a YIARI veterinarian, said smoke from forest and land fires contains particles and substances that can enter the respiratory tract and interfere with lung function.
“In severe exposure, particularly when smoke is very dense and persists for several days, animals can experience respiratory problems and a lack of oxygen, or hypoxia,” Komara said.
The assessment is consistent with reports from the rescue team that Sampurna had experienced respiratory distress after being exposed to dense smoke for several days.
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Fire Threatens Wildlife Habitat in West Kalimantan
The rescue illustrates the impact of Indonesia’s forest and land fires beyond human communities, as smoke and habitat disruption can force wildlife into areas inhabited or cultivated by people.
Sampurna’s case has drawn attention on social media after images of the rescue circulated, showing the exhausted orangutan receiving emergency medical assistance.
The Indonesian government and conservation organizations continue to respond to the wildfire situation in West Kalimantan, including efforts to rescue animals affected by fires and smoke.
The Ministry of Forestry said the rescue was part of efforts to protect wildlife affected by the ongoing forest and land fire situation in Ketapang. (Kehutanan)
