Orangutan mother and baby rescued from West Kalimantan fire

An orangutan mother and her baby were rescued in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province after wildfire spread near their habitat, conservation authorities said Saturday.

The pair had been under observation since July after being spotted in a plantation area near a forest. Authorities moved them on Thursday, September 3, to a rescue centre run by the wildlife foundation Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia, or YIARI.

Veterinarians are monitoring the animals. A preliminary check found no burn injuries.

YIARI veterinarian Komara said prolonged smoke exposure can affect orangutans' respiratory systems, especially when smoke levels in their habitat are high.

YIARI operational director Argitoe Ranting said the latest rescue meant nine orangutans had been evacuated because of wildfire threats in less than a month in Ketapang district, West Kalimantan.

Indonesia has been fighting wildfires for weeks, with smog blanketing parts of Borneo and Sumatra. Haze has also contributed to air pollution in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

The West Kalimantan natural resources conservation agency said one orangutan died after being rescued last week, with a necropsy result pointing to smoke exposure as the cause of death.