Orangutan Sampurna dies after rescue from wildfire-affected area in West Kalimantan
Quick Look
- An orangutan named Sampurna, believed to be around 20 years old, was found struggling to breathe in Ketapang district, West Kalimantan, an area affected by wildfires.
- Rescuers provided oxygen and fluids before transporting him to a rehabilitation centre, but his condition worsened and he died later that day.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
West Kalimantan has experienced wildfires that have affected wildlife habitats, prompting rescue operations by conservation agencies and NGOs.
The orangutan, named Sampurna and believed to be around 20 years old, was found by residents on Sunday morning in Ketapang district, West Kalimantan, an area affected by wildfires.
He was unable to stand and was struggling to breathe when a joint team from the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency and the Indonesian Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Forest and Wildlife (YIARI) arrived, the Forestry Ministry said.
Video footage showed veterinarians giving Sampurna oxygen and intravenous fluids before taking him to a YIARI rehabilitation centre.
His condition deteriorated, however, and he died later that day, the ministry said in a statement.
“We deeply regret that Sampurna could not be saved,” said West Kalimantan natural conservation chief Murlan Dameria Pane in the statement.
Open Questions
- What caused the wildfires in Ketapang district?
- Was Sampurna's condition directly related to smoke inhalation or fire exposure?
- Are there ongoing efforts to protect orangutans in wildfire-prone areas of West Kalimantan?
