Lusi and Riri are not related and were rescued separately, however, both were found in heartbreaking conditions.
Lusi was alone in a tree that was still standing amid a forest reduced to ashes in a High Conservation Value (HCV) area. There was no sign of her mother.
YIARI CEO and wildlife veterinarian Dr Karmele Llano Sanchez attended the rescue.
“Lusi looked extremely stressed and very thin. She may have gone for days without finding any food in this devastated forest,” said Karmele.
Lusi being carried to safety
A young orangutan in urgent need of care
“We were deeply saddened to see her in this condition. She may have been unable to find any food for a long time,” said Karmele.
Meanwhile, Riri was found alone in an oil palm tree.
She was visibly dehydrated and incredibly frightened. The absence of her mother was particularly concerning because orangutan young typically remain with their mothers for seven to eight years. At just four to six years old, she would normally still depend on her mother.
“It was heartbreaking to see a young orangutan alone without her mother. We kept wondering where her mother was, because orangutan mothers do not normally leave their young. We are therefore concerned that her mother may have died,” said Karmele.
Riri at rescue
Rescue numbers exceed those of the catastrophic 2015 fires
As wildfire continues to threaten forests and wildlife in West Kalimantan, rescue teams are working to reach orangutans in danger and get them the urgent care they need.