---
title: "Indonesian Orangutans Relocated After Wildfires"
url: https://newscentral.site/indonesian-orangutans-relocated-after-wildfires/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "World"
published: 2026-10-13T11:22:21.000Z
updated: 2026-10-13T12:38:54.496Z
id: 16aebd7a-a75e-4605-b33a-7437babf9455
source: "ABC News International https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/indonesia-relocates-8-orangutans-protected-forest-after-rescue-137218880"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/indonesian-orangutans-relocated-after-wildfires/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Indonesian Orangutans Relocated After Wildfires

Eight endangered orangutans have been relocated to a protected forest in Indonesian Borneo after being rescued from areas ravaged by wildfires.

The animals, including three mothers with infants and two adolescent males, were moved into Batu Nyambu protected forest in West Kalimantan province on October 8. This is according to Heribertus Suciadi, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Nature Rehabilitation Initiative Foundation, or YIARI.

Large swaths of their habitat had been destroyed by fires between August and September, forcing the orangutans into areas inhabited by people in search of food and shelter. The wildfires also cut off vital habitat corridors and reduced access to food sources.

The rescued animals were found to be suffering from malnutrition and dehydration, but did not have any life-threatening injuries such as burns or broken bones. They had been living in small forest patches surrounded by plantations before being evacuated due to expanding fires and heavy smoke.

A female orangutan known as Mama Man and her infant, Man, were among those rescued after being monitored for months in a small forest patch.

Eight orangutans were relocated to a protected forest after being rescued from wildfires in Indonesia. In addition to Mama Man and her infant, two other mother-and-infant pairs and two juvenile males were also found in similar conditions near villages in Ketapang and North Kayong.

The rescued orangutans underwent thorough veterinary examinations and observation at a rehabilitation center operated by YIARI before being deemed fit for release back into the wild. The chosen release site in Batu Nyambu was selected due to its relatively intact state, despite wildfires in the area, providing a suitable environment with abundant food sources, water, nesting trees, and connections to neighboring forests.

According to Argitoe Ranting, YIARI Operational Director, the goal is not just to relocate orangutans but to ensure they have a genuine chance of survival in their natural habitat. He emphasized that protected forests capable of receiving displaced orangutans are becoming increasingly scarce due to widespread fires.

The severe forest and land fires in Indonesia this year have been exacerbated by El Niño's intensification of the dry season, as well as land clearances using fire in Borneo and Sumatra island regions. Water shortages have also hindered Indonesian firefighters, who have received support from Japan in their efforts to combat the blazes.

The devastating impact of Indonesia's wildfires has taken a toll on its orangutan population, with many forced to flee their habitats in search of safety.

A total of 46 orangutans have been rescued by YIARI, an organization that works to protect and conserve the great apes. These animals were relocated to a protected forest, providing them with a safer environment in which to live. This move was deemed necessary after their original habitat became uninhabitable due to the wildfires.

The relocation effort is part of a broader rescue operation that has seen over 270 wild animals saved from the brink of disaster. Despite these efforts, some orangutans have not been so fortunate, with at least one individual succumbing to injuries sustained during the wildfires.

---
Source: [ABC News International](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/indonesia-relocates-8-orangutans-protected-forest-after-rescue-137218880)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/indonesian-orangutans-relocated-after-wildfires/