Orangutan which was found clinging to a tree in Indonesia forest fire had a bullet lodged on its face
Two stranded orangutans, estimated to be 20 years old, were rescued from a forest fire raging through West Borneo. The primates, now named Bara (male) and Arang (female), were found on September 16 by the International Animal Rescue (IAR). They were found clinging to the last trees standing in the middle of a burnt area of rainforest. A decision was made to evacuate them immediately. In a quick one-hour rescue operation, which saw IAR members working with the West Kalimantan Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the orangutans were sedated and safely moved into the transport crates.
Initial medical assessments showed that both orangutans were severely dehydrated and one even had a bullet lodged on its face. Tantyo Bangun, Chairman of IAR Indonesia, warned that this rescue was just the beginning: "Based on our experience of the devastating consequences of forest fires in 2015, it is likely that the effects of these fires will be felt long after they have been extinguished. Many orangutans will be left stranded after their forest homes burn to the ground."
In 2015, with the Ministry of Environment, IAR had managed to rescue around 40 orangutans. “The LHK Ministry and orangutan rescue centres across Indonesia will soon become overwhelmed and recovery from these fires will be lengthy, making orangutans increasingly vulnerable, pushing the species closer to extinction,” added Bangun.
Bara and Arang, currently under medical observation and treatment at IAR’s orangutan rehabilitation centre, will be released soon. Since they have lived in the wild all their lives, they do not require lengthy rehabilitation stay. Once they recover, they will be translocated into the safety of Gunung Palung National Park (TANAGUPA). The rescue, amidst devastating forest and land fires, is a stark reminder of the real and lasting threat that forest and land fires pose to Borneo’s biodiversity.