Full Breakdown
Orangutan Rescue Efforts Amid Indonesia’s 2026 Wildfire Crisis
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Rescue Operations
In late September, a three- to-four-year-old female orangutan nicknamed Novita was found clinging to a leaf-less tree in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, after walking through flames. Veterinarians and firefighters from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) tranquilised her, administered oxygen and intravenous fluids, and transferred her to the Nyaru Menteng rehabilitation centre for intensive care. He sustained minor burn injuries and is slated for relocation to a nature reserve in Central Kalimantan.
Wildfire Scale and Drivers
The 2026 fire season has been amplified by an unusually strong El Niño event, the most intense in four decades. Government figures, unchanged since the start of the year, record more than 202,000 ha burned between January and July. Satellite analysis by the Nusantara Atlas project estimates nearly 896,000 ha—over five times the size of Greater London—had burned by the end of August. National Geographic reports that about 2 million acres (? 809,000 ha) have burned nationwide, with more than 1,700 human deaths linked to smoke exposure. Active fires now cover more than half of all orangutan habitat, including key strongholds such as Gunung Palung National Park.
Official Statements & Responses
Andi Muhammad Khadafi, head of the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency, told reporters on October 8 that Novita’s hand and foot burns are improving, but she may never fully regain her pre-injury abilities. BOSF chief executive Jamartin Sihite described the rescue scene as “the sound of disaster,” emphasizing that the team’s rapid response prevented further injury. Local conservation official Handi Nasoka highlighted the hazardous conditions, noting the thick haze that surrounded the rescue area.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He was found on top of a tree on razed land. The haze was quite thick in the area because fires were burning around there,” — Handi Nasoka, a local natural resources conservation agency official
Why It Matters
The rescues underscore the escalating threat that intensified wildfires pose to Indonesia’s critically endangered orangutans. With half of their remaining forest now ablaze, habitat loss and smoke-related health impacts jeopardize the species’ long-term survival, prompting urgent calls for stronger fire-prevention policies and expanded rehabilitation capacity.