Mother Orangutan and Baby Rescued After Forest Fires Destroy Their Habitat

West Kalimantan, Indonesia — September 27, 2026

A mother orangutan and her baby have been rescued from a palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan after devastating forest fires destroyed much of the animals’ natural habitat.

Mother and Baby Found in a Plantation

The orangutans were discovered in Penjalaan Village, Ketapang, after fires affected surrounding forests and forced wildlife to move in search of food and safer areas.

When rescuers arrived, the mother and her approximately one-year-old baby were extremely thin and weak. They remained close to their nest despite people working nearby.

The mother, later named Mama Penja, was found suffering from severe dehydration, malnutrition and serious burns to both feet.

Rescuers Provide Emergency Treatment

Wildlife rescuers carefully sedated Mama Penja before beginning an emergency medical assessment.

Veterinarians provided intravenous fluids and oxygen to help stabilise her condition. The team also examined the baby before transporting both orangutans to a rehabilitation centre for further care.

Veterinarians believe the mother’s burns may have been caused by walking across burning peatland after the surrounding forest was affected by fires.

Fires Leave Wildlife With Fewer Places to Go

The rescue is part of a wider effort to protect wildlife affected by forest fires in West Kalimantan.

As forests burn and food sources disappear, orangutans can be pushed toward plantations and villages in search of food. This can place the animals in unfamiliar and potentially dangerous environments.

Indonesian conservation authorities and wildlife organisations have carried out several rescue operations in the region. In September, teams also rescued an adult male orangutan that had entered a community area after the surrounding habitat was damaged by fire.

A Second Chance for Mama Penja and Her Baby

Mama Penja and her baby are now receiving care at a wildlife rehabilitation centre, where veterinarians can monitor their health and help them recover from the effects of the fire.

The rescue gives the pair a chance to recover away from the damaged habitat while conservation workers assess their future rehabilitation and release options.

For the rescue team, saving the mother and baby is also a reminder of the hidden impact of forest fires: when their habitat disappears, wildlife can be left struggling to survive even after the flames have moved on.

Sources

• International Animal Rescue — Mother Orangutan Rescued With Baby After Kalimantan Forest Fires Leave Her With Severe Foot Burns — September 27, 2026.
• Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia — Upaya Serius Kemenhut Rescue Satwa Liar Terdampak Karhutla — September 17, 2026.
• ANTARA News — BKSDA dan YIARI Kalbar evakuasi 3 orang utan terpapar karhutla — September 14, 2026.
• ABC News — Inside the mission to save orangutans from raging fires — September 13, 2026.