Indonesia wildfires rescue seven orangutans West Kalimantan

6 sourcesUpdated Aug 31, 2026

In West Kalimantan on Borneo, a 20-year-old orangutan named Sampurna was found writhing near a palm-oil plantation amid Indonesia's severe forest and land fires. Rescue workers said the orangutan was weakened by thick smoke, suffered hypoxia and respiratory difficulties, with no severe burn injuries but vomiting and a suspected acute respiratory infection. Sampurna received oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids and will be moved to a rehabilitation center before eventual release back into the wild. This incident is part of a broader pattern as wildlife rescues have risen to at least seven orangutans saved from fires this season in the same region. Officials say more than 202,000 hectares have burned across six provinces in Borneo and Sumatra from January to July, fueling a haze that has harmed both people and wildlife. The ongoing rescues highlight the environmental and health impacts of the haze and the need for continued conservation and public health responses.

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El Niño-fueled global heat and wildfires in 2026story 23 of 23 · since Aug 12, 2026

Aug 12, 2026Aug 31, 2026

Aug 31, 2026Indonesia's Borneo wildfires have burned over 202,000 hectares this year, prompting rescue of seven orangutans including one treated for a smoke-related collapse in West Kalimantan.
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