Eight Orangutans Translocated to Batu Nyambu Protected Forest After Borneo Wildfires

On October 9, 2026, eight critically endangered Bornean orangutans—three mother-infant pairs and two adolescent males—were moved from fire-scarred plantations in Ketapang and North Kayong regencies to the 23,000-hectare Batu Nyambu Protected Forest in West Kalimantan. The relocation, carried out by the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency with the Indonesian Nature Rehabilitation Initiative Foundation (YIARI), followed veterinary examinations confirming the animals were healthy enough for release.

Indonesia rescues 46 orangutans as wildfires devastate Borneo habitats Indonesia relocates 8 orangutans into protected forest after rescue from wildfires Indonesia sends eight orangutans to protected forest ReutersEight Orangutans Affected by Forest and Land Fires Translocated to Ketapang Protected Forest Wildfires threaten Indonesia’s orangutans as rescuers find injured animals

Indonesia’s 2026 wildfire season, intensified by a strong El Niño, burned an estimated ?896,000 hectares nationwide by August, according to the independent Nusantara Atlas project. The smoke created regional haze and health emergencies in neighboring countries. Habitat loss forced orangutans onto agricultural lands where food and water are scarce, increasing human-wildlife conflict.

Reuters

• 46 orangutans rescued between August 1 and October 9, 2026 (West Kalimantan agency head Murlan Dameria Pane).

Indonesia rescues 46 orangutans as wildfires devastate Borneo habitats

• 8 orangutans translocated on October 9, 2026.

Eight Orangutans Affected by Forest and Land Fires Translocated to Ketapang Protected Forest

• 23,000 hectares comprise the Batu Nyambu Protected Forest, offering primary and secondary forest cover, water sources, and connectivity to neighboring forests.

Eight Orangutans Affected by Forest and Land Fires Translocated to Ketapang Protected Forest

• 175,000 reported respiratory-illness cases in Indonesia linked to haze.

Wildfires threaten Indonesia’s orangutans as rescuers find injured animals

YIARI spokesperson Heribertus Suciadi said the rescued orangutans showed no burns or fractures but suffered malnutrition and dehydration due to loss of forest corridors. YIARI operational director Argitoe Ranting explained that Batu Nyambu was selected after assessments of food availability, water sources, and habitat suitability. The West Kalimantan agency emphasized that relocation is a temporary safety measure, not a solution to ongoing habitat destruction.

Indonesia relocates 8 orangutans into protected forest after rescue from wildfires

• “They had no burns, open wounds, broken bones or other life-threatening injuries, but appeared to be suffering from malnutrition and dehydration,” — Heribertus Suciadi, YIARI spokesperson

Indonesia relocates 8 orangutans into protected forest after rescue from wildfires

• “The Batu Nyambu Protected Forest was chosen based on studies of carrying capacity and habitat suitability. This area has the availability of food, water sources, roaming space, and connectivity with other forest areas,” — Argitoe Ranting

Eight Orangutans Affected by Forest and Land Fires Translocated to Ketapang Protected Forest

Government figures cite 202,000 hectares burned from January to July, while the Nusantara Atlas project estimates ?896,000 hectares burned nationwide by August, leaving the precise scale of habitat loss uncertain. YIARI reports the eight translocated orangutans were in good health, but other reports note several rescued individuals still require intensive medical treatment for burns, malnutrition, and anemia.

Indonesia’s raging wildfires endanger orangutans, scorch forests

YIARI and local authorities will maintain security patrols within Batu Nyambu and monitor water stations installed in surrounding forests to reduce dehydration risk. The agency also calls for stronger peat-land management policies and increased firefighting resources to prevent future habitat loss.

Eight Orangutans Affected by Forest and Land Fires Translocated to Ketapang Protected Forest