Farmer Finds Smoke-Choked Orangutan Amid Kalimantan Haze

The orangutan fainted before rescuers administered oxygen and IV fluids.

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An orangutan was found collapsed and in a weakened state in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, the province hardest hit by raging forest fires, on Sunday, 30 August

According to Reuters, the orangutan was discovered by a farmer named Jais at a palm oil plantation near the fire site while he was on his way to his farm.

After finding the animal, Jais and several other residents immediately called for help.

About two hours later, wildlife foundation Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI) arrived with a veterinarian to treat the orangutan, which had fainted by then.

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Image via Willy Kurniawan/Reuters/New Straits Times

The orangutan, later named Sampurna after the village where she was found, was suspected of suffering from hypoxia due to the thick smoke

The veterinarian said Sampurna did not have any serious burn injuries, but was experiencing breathing difficulties and had vomited.

She was also suspected of having a respiratory tract infection.

According to Kumparan, the veterinarian administered oxygen and intravenous fluids to stabilise Sampurna before moving her to a rehabilitation centre for further treatment.

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Image via Willy Kurniawan/Reuters

Sampurna is estimated to be around 20 years old

She will remain at the rehabilitation centre until she has recovered enough to be released back into the wild.

Rescuers said they have so far saved seven orangutans affected by the fires.

Meanwhile, according to the New Straits Times, Indonesia has recorded at least 202,010 hectares of land burned as of July this year.

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