As wildfires tear through West Kalimantan, Borneo, our partner YIARI has been on the frontline, racing to rescue orangutans cut off from their forest homes. Since August, the team has responded to a string of urgent cases: Wak, an adult male stranded in a plantation; Mama Yuni, Yuni and Pura, safely reunited with the wild after a five-hour journey to Gunung Palung National Park; and Mama Yayuk and Yayuk, rescued and released into protected forest. Not every story has ended happily though, Sampurna, found unconscious after days surrounded by thick smoke, tragically died hours after reaching the rescue centre.
The YIARI team have now rescued 49 orangutans from forest fires!
The fires have continued to isolate vulnerable orangutans, with several mothers and infants, including Mama Man, Mama Novi, Mama Noni and Mama Penja. All rescued in critical condition, suffering smoke inhalation, burns, dehydration and malnutrition. Kumbang, a survivor of a snare injury in 2022, was also found suffering smoke-related breathing problems along with old wounds from a suspected gunshot. All remain under close veterinary care at the Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre as the team continues to patrol fire-affected areas and respond to urgent calls for help.
If you can, please help – Borneo is burning!
Can you help?
Updates from the field
It’s clear that the pair have been surviving among a few acacia trees within an area of approximately 400 square meters. The area has no adequate food source and has been severely impacted by fires.
Mama Lifa is sedated by dart gun, before the pair are quickly evacuated to safety at the rehabilitation and rescue centre. A medical assessment reveals no burns or other injuries; however, Mama Lifa’s body temperature is high, reaching 39.5°C. The medical team immediately administer treatment, including IV fluids and oxygen.
Mama Penja is severely dehydrated and pale, with serious burns to both feet. She is also showing signs of malnutrition and anaemia, likely resulting from prolonged food loss since the fires began.
The team is working to stabilise Mama Penja, provide intensive nutrition and care, and protect her vulnerable infant, Penja.
A veterinary examination reveals abnormal sounds in his right lung, likely due to smoke inhalation. Kumbang receives oxygen and IV fluids. The team also finds multiple wounds and scars, including an apparent abscess or projectile injury and a foreign object embedded in his right hand, suspected to be a bullet.
Kumbang remains under close observation at the YIARI Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, where he is receiving further treatment.
Mama Noni has a body temperature of 39.4°C and is panting heavily with rapid breathing. The veterinary team administers IV fluids, oxygen and cooling compresses to reduce her temperature.
Noni, estimated to be just 1–2 months old, remains highly vulnerable but continues to nurse from her mother. Both are evacuated to the Centre for close monitoring and care.
The fire has cut off their route to the remaining forest, leaving them moving between plantations with no safe way back to their habitat.
Mama Novi and the three young orangutans are assessed by the veterinary team. One of the juveniles, Nopal, has a dangerously high body temperature of 40°C and receives immediate treatment and IV fluids. His temperature is brought under control.
All four orangutans are transferred to the rehabilitation centre, where they remain under close observation.
The team carefully sedates Mama Man and secures both mother and infant for evacuation. Mama Man receives oxygen, while baby Man shows worrying signs of smoke exposure, including nasal discharge and dried secretions around his nose.
Both are immediately transferred to the rescue centre for protection and care. At present, there is no safe place to release them.
YIARI find him unconscious, with severely impaired breathing after days of thick smoke surrounding his habitat. The team administers oxygen and IV fluids before rushing him to the rescue centre.
Sampurna has no visible burns, but the smoke has already caused serious respiratory distress. Tragically, he dies just hours after arriving at the centre.
We are devastated by this loss.
On 28 August, veterinarians confirm that both are healthy and uninjured. After a five-hour journey by land and water, they are released into the protected forests of Gunung Palung National Park, where food and forest cover are abundant.
YIARI, the Ministry of Forestry/BKSDA and Gunung Palung National Park coordinate the rescue. Following veterinary checks, all three are safely transported on a five-hour journey by land and water to the protected forests of Gunung Palung National Park.
They are successfully released back into the wild.
Fires are meters away!
The fire situation in West Kalimantan is escalating rapidly. Hundreds, if not thousands, of fires continue to burn out of control, while the resources available to fight them are becoming increasingly stretched and the teams on the ground are exhausted.Karmele Llano Sanchez, YIARI CEO
The situation is becoming unbearable. It is difficult to imagine what the next two months of drought could bring.