Palangka Raya. A 20-year-old male orangutan weighing about 70 kilograms has been rescued from a forest in Pulang Pisau, Central Kalimantan, after being found in concerning condition and suspected of suffering from a respiratory infection amid widespread forest and land fires.

The orangutan was found in the Tumbang Nusa Special Purpose Forest (KHDTK) after residents reported its presence to the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

Officers monitored the animal before carrying out the rescue. When the team arrived, the orangutan was found hanging from trees in the forest.

Central Kalimantan BKSDA head Andi Muhammad Khadafi said the orangutan appeared to be in concerning condition when it was rescued and examined. It was suspected of having an acute respiratory infection, with mucus from its nose among the symptoms observed.

The animal is now undergoing medical examinations, treatment and observation at the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) rehabilitation center in Nyaru Menteng, Palangka Raya.

“The orangutan is now at the BOSF rehabilitation center in Nyaru Menteng to receive medical treatment for the effects of the haze. During our observation, we noticed some mucus coming from its nose,” Andi said.

The rescue comes as authorities step up efforts to control forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan and other fire-prone provinces.

The Forestry Ministry and a joint team are conducting ground operations, water bombing, aerial patrols and weather modification operations to suppress fires. Ministry monitoring showed a significant decline in high-confidence hotspots in Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan, although hotspots increased in South Kalimantan and emerged in Jambi.

Data from the ministry’s SiPongi fire-monitoring system, based on NASA Terra/Aqua, SNPP and NOAA-20 satellite observations, recorded 592 high-confidence hotspots nationwide as of Sept. 13, up from 567 a day earlier.

Central Kalimantan recorded 89 high-confidence hotspots, down from 197, while West Kalimantan fell to 14 from 91. South Sumatra recorded 49, down from 62, while South Kalimantan rose to 28 from seven. Jambi recorded 17 after reporting none the previous day, while Riau remained at zero.

The orangutan’s condition is still being evaluated, and it has not been established whether haze exposure caused its suspected respiratory infection.

BKSDA plans to return the orangutan to its natural habitat once it has recovered and is deemed fit for release.

“If it is considered ready, we will immediately relocate the orangutan to its natural habitat,” Andi said

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