Nine rescued orangutans, including four mothers with young, were released into a protected forest in Borneo after recovering from injuries caused by fires.
Orangutans released into forest
Nine orangutans were released into the Batu Nyambu forest in West Kalimantan, Borneo. Animal protection teams opened their cages, allowing the primates to climb into the trees and disappear into the vegetation.Four mothers and their young
Among the released orangutans are four mothers accompanied by their young, three of whom are pregnant. This was discovered during recent veterinary examinations.Rescued from oil palm plantation
The animals were rescued in August and September from an oil palm plantation in the Ketapang region, which was affected by fires. Some suffered burns on their hands and feet, while others were underweight and malnourished.Recovery and preparation
After four to eight weeks of recovery in a center in Ketapang, their return to nature required a real expedition. The caretakers transported the orangutans by car, boat, and then on foot for several hours, carrying their heavy cages through a dense forest, over steep and slippery terrain.New refuge in protected forest
Their new refuge covers 23,000 hectares of protected forest, where they can find food and shelter. This release occurs as fires continue to threaten the Bornean orangutans, an endangered species.Fires and rescue efforts
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, at least 51 individuals have been rescued in West Kalimantan since the beginning of August. According to the Nusantara Atlas monitoring organization, fires have destroyed more than 1.9 million hectares in Indonesia during the first nine months of 2026.
