The forest fires in Borneo are the worst in a decade, affecting both humans and animals. Several orangutans have been rescued from the blazes – among them Novita, who was trapped high up in a tree.
In late September, a female orangutan was discovered high up in a tree. The small patch of forest where she had sought refuge was surrounded by fire. She was trapped.
The flames and smoke from the forest fires currently sweeping across Borneo pose an immense risk – not only to humans, but also to the animals that inhabit the island’s ancient rainforests. Non-governmental organisations and authorities are now working hard to rescue orangutans in distress from the fires.
Our partner organisation, the BOS Foundation, has so far helped rescue two orangutans that had become trapped by the fires. The most recent was Novita.
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Orangutan trapped in a tree
Novita, as she would later be named, was found high up in a tree in an area that had been burning for 3–4 days. The BOS Foundation and local authorities were called in and collaborated on an intensive rescue operation. The task was extremely challenging, with it taking two days to bring her to safety. Before the rescue team could get her down, they had to extinguish the fires in the area. Subsequently, it took several attempts to sedate her and bring her down, as the smoke and the height of the tree made it difficult to get her in clear sight.
The orangutan received emergency treatment on-site before being transported to the veterinary clinic at the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre. Novita had sustained severe burns on her hands and feet – most likely caused when she had to run across burning ground to climb the tree.
Four toes had to be amputated
Novita is currently at Nyaru Menteng, receiving intensive care for her burn injuries. Some of the injuries were so severe that they could not be treated. Consequently, the veterinarians decided to amputate four of her toes.
“Novita’s burns are severe, especially on her feet. Some tissue has been destroyed, and she has lost several toes. We are continuing to treat her wounds and consult with specialists. Some areas are showing signs of improvement, and we hope she will continue to recover and regain the function of her feet,” says Dr. Agus Fahroni, Veterinary Coordinator at the BOS Foundation.
Once Novita has recovered, she will undergo rehabilitation and an assessment will be made as to whether she can be released back into the rainforest. Orangutans that have lost fingers or toes have been released in the past, so this remains a real possibility.
Read also: Borneo is battling the worst fires in 11 years – and things could get much worse
Male orangutan recovering
On September 14, another orangutan was found near a fire-affected area in Central Kalimantan. A 20-year-old male, weighing approximately 70 kilograms, was rescued. The BOS Foundation and local authorities were called in and managed to bring him to safety.
The male orangutan is currently being cared for at Nyaru Menteng, where veterinarians are closely monitoring his condition. Among other things, he has an old injury to the toes on his left foot and the fingers on his left hand, but he is currently doing better than Novita.
As a wild orangutan, he naturally keeps his distance from humans, as he should. When staff approach the enclosure where he is being kept, he makes vocalisations to signal that they should stay away. He appears to be in good health and is an active orangutan – very positive signs.
Once his condition has improved and the veterinarian determines that he is ready to be released back into the wild, he will be moved to a suitable and safe habitat.
Saving orangutans and extinguishing fires
These two rescues highlight just how vulnerable orangutans and other wild animals are when fires rage, says Marie Sigvardt, Director of Save the Orangutan.
“It is heartbreaking to see an orangutan trapped high up in a tree. We are incredibly happy that we managed to save her, but we know that, far too often, they are not found in time,” she says and continues,
“These intense fires can have catastrophic consequences for the orangutan as a species. We risk losing many orangutans to flames and smoke, while others will be left with chronic respiratory illnesses. The loss of vast forest areas also has long-term consequences for orangutans, as the species depends on large, contiguous habitats.”
This is why the intensive effort to locate and extinguish fires as quickly as possible is so vital. Save the Orangutan supports fire patrols that work constantly to detect and put out fires. Furthermore, our partner, the BOS Foundation, stands ready to help rescue orangutans in distress and welcome them into rehabilitation centres, where they do everything in their power to protect the animals from the smoke.
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