Palangka Raya, Ekuatorial – Thick smog resulted from massive forest fires in Central Kalimantan not only affecting human health but also endangered species, particularly orangutan, said an activist on Wednesday (24/9).
Monterado Fridman, Coordinator of Communication Division, Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS) in Nyaru Menteng, said that there were at least 20 orangutans suffered acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and another dozens have eye problems.
The BOS Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue Center, located outside of Palangka Raya, was founded by Lone Droscher Nielsen in 1999. Currently, it is the home to around 600 orphaned and displaced orangutans. Since 2012, they have managed to release at least 100 orangutans back to their natural habitat.
“They [infected orangutans] are still very young, under ten years, and their immune system has yet to develop to adapt with current condition,” said Fridman to Ekuatorial.
Fridman said smokes from the fires entered their airways causing excessive allergies leading to bronchitis and pneumonia. Usual symptoms from affected-orangutans, he added, were behavior change, diarrhea, and constantly rubbing their eyes.
“There is not much that we can do, except giving them medicines and vitamins to increase their immune system,” said Marios Tandang, a veterinarian in Nyaru Menteng. “We also prepare oxygen for initial treatment.”
Meanwhile, Monterado said that he feared more orangutans will be infected by ARIs as the center was not far away from the fires.
“Maybe more orangutans [will be infected by ARIs. But, I do hope it’s not going to happen,” he said adding 95 hectares burned down near the center.
In 2014, they have received six baby orangutans as a result of these forest fires.
Meanwhile, Toto Sutiyoso, staff of the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), said that they have not received reports of protected species being killed or trapped in the forest fires.
“It’s called as forest [fires] but mostly it happens in bushes which is not their [protected animals] habitat,” said Sutiyoso adding that animals have already evacuated before fires reached their place.
“We would most likely to find dead snakes because they roaming around underground and probably got trapped [in the fires]. But, we have yet to discover any protected species died because of fires,” he said. He added that animals’ instincts were more sensitive to danger than humans so they would search for safer sanctuary avoiding fires. Maturidi[:]