Forest and land fires (karhutla) can have a direct impact on wildlife, including orangutans living in and around forest areas. When habitats burn and thick smoke envelops the area, animals lose access to shelter and food sources while facing the risk of injury from fire and heat. This poses a real threat to orangutans because during a fire, they have no choice but to escape by swinging from tree to tree amid the dense smoke surrounding the forest, which leaves them struggling to breathe—a difficult situation even for humans to endure.
This was the situation faced by a female baby orangutan later named Novita. On September 25, 2026, Novita was found clinging to a Sengon (silk tree) in the middle of an area that had been burning for several days. Novita’s rescue was a joint effort involving the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Kalteng), BOS Foundation, TNI AD (Indonesian Army), and local residents to save a wild animal in a dangerous situation.
Rescuing an orangutan during a fire requires high coordination and extreme caution. The process began with a report from a local resident named Dodi in Katune Village, Banturung Sub-district, Bukit Batu District, on September 25. He reported the presence of a baby orangutan in a Sengon tree near a resident's oil palm plantation. The area was known to have been burning for about three to four days.
Given her small body size, the baby orangutan was suspected to have been separated from her mother. Following up on the report, the BOS Foundation team immediately headed to the location and coordinated directly with BKSDA Kalteng.
The joint team arrived at the site around 2:30 PM WIB and found the fire still burning around the location. Novita was in the Sengon tree while thick smoke enveloped the surrounding area. These conditions meant the rescue process had to be conducted with extreme care.
Initial steps involved spraying water to extinguish the fire around the radius of the tree where Novita was located. Besides helping reduce the heat, this effort was also made to create a safer area should Novita be successfully brought down from the tree.
The team then prepared the sedation process. However, the attempt could not yet be carried out because the shooter's field of vision was obstructed by thick smoke, while Novita remained high up in the tree and stayed alert.
As daylight began to fade, the sedation process was postponed. The Central Kalimantan BKSDA team continued to conduct periodic monitoring to ensure Novita remained in the same location and could be rescued as soon as conditions allowed.
The next day, new challenges emerged. The wind caused the fire to reignite in several areas that had previously been extinguished, forcing the team to put out the flames again before continuing the rescue process.
Once the area was deemed sufficiently safe, another sedation attempt was made. At around 10:30 AM WIB, the sedation was successful. Novita fell and landed safely on a rescue net that had been stretched out by the team beneath the tree.
After being successfully evacuated, the baby orangutan was named Novita by the Central Kalimantan BKSDA team.
After being rescued from the Sengon tree, Novita’s physical condition required immediate medical attention. An initial examination revealed burn injuries on both her palms and the soles of her feet.
The medical team suspected that these injuries occurred when Novita was in the middle of the burning area and likely had to move across fire-affected ground before finally taking refuge in the Sengon tree.
Considering Novita's extremely weakened state after spending several days in the fire-affected area, the veterinarian and the BOS Foundation medical team provided emergency treatment on site. The actions taken included:
Oxygen Administration: Provided to help address respiratory distress after Novita was exposed to smoke for a prolonged period.
IV Fluid Administration: Applied to meet body fluid requirements and treat severe dehydration.
Initial Examination and Care for Burn Wounds: Performed on both her hands and feet, including procedures to reduce the risk of infection.
After receiving initial treatment, Novita was immediately brought to the BOS Foundation Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Nyaru Menteng for further medical examination and care.
Novita’s story illustrates how forest and land fires can have serious consequences for wildlife. Amid changing habitats and unpredictable conditions, swift and coordinated rescue efforts are essential to give affected animals a chance to survive and receive the care they need.
For Novita, being rescued from the middle of a burning area is only the first step. The next journey involves the process of recovery, care, and rehabilitation to help her grow into a healthy orangutan.
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