World · East Asia & Pacific · 15 hrs ago
Nine orangutans rescued from fires return to a protected forest in Borneo
Nine orangutans rescued from fires in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, have returned to the wild after weeks of care.
The group, including four mothers and their young, was released on Oct.
29 into Batu Nyambu, a protected forest in Indonesian Borneo.
They spent four to eight weeks recovering from injuries and poor health at a rehabilitation centre in Ketapang.
Three of the mothers were found to be pregnant, and conservation workers will monitor one of them after her release.
Batu Nyambu was chosen for its largely undisturbed forest and plentiful food and shelter, giving the animals a safer place to live.
Borneo's orangutans are critically endangered, and fires are adding pressure to their shrinking habitat.
Indonesia's forestry ministry says at least 51 orangutans were rescued from burning forests in West Kalimantan since early August; conservationists will keep watch over the released animals.
Nine orangutans rescued from fires in Ketapang, Indonesian Borneo, were released into a protected forest on October 29.
The group included four mothers and their young, and three mothers were found to be pregnant.
The orangutans spent four to eight weeks recovering at a rehabilitation centre after some suffered burns or malnutrition.
They were released in Batu Nyambu, a 23,000-hectare protected area chosen for its largely undisturbed forest, food and shelter.
The release comes amid continuing fires and growing concern for Borneo’s critically endangered orangutans.
- Who
- Nine rescued orangutans, including four mothers and their young.
- What
- They were released back into the forest after rehabilitation.
- When
- October 29. They were rescued in August and September.
- Where
- Batu Nyambu, a protected area in West Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.
- Why
- They had recovered from injuries and malnutrition caused by fires, and their rehabilitation team found a suitable habitat for their return.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nine orangutans were rescued from fires affecting their habitat in Ketapang.
The orangutans spent four to eight weeks recovering at a rehabilitation centre in Ketapang.
Conservationists released the nine orangutans into Batu Nyambu protected forest.
- Rescued orangutans
- 9
- Release date
- October 29
- Release site
- Batu Nyambu, West Kalimantan
- Protected area size
- 23,000 hectares
- Recovery period
- 4 to 8 weeks
- Pregnant mothers
- 3
3 sources
What people are saying
They had to be cared for and fed until they were in good condition again.
We decided to release them as soon as possible after finding a habitat that was safe for them.