Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia · Published · PanduanHewan editorial team
Summary
What you need to know
In the Indonesia forest fires 2026 season, the Ministry of Forestry had rescued 100 wild animals in six priority provinces by 22 September, 53 of them orangutans in Kalimantan; eight animals died. In West Kalimantan alone, the conservation agency (BKSDA) had rescued 43 orangutans, 12 pangolins and 4 leopard cats by 30 September 2026, with fires still burning in Ketapang and Kayong Utara.
- Animals rescued in six priority provinces
- 100 animals (as of 22 September 2026) source ↗
- Of which orangutans
- 53, all in Kalimantan source ↗
- Animals that died, of the 100 handled
- 8 (snakes, monitor lizards, turtles and one orangutan) source ↗
- Rescues by BKSDA West Kalimantan
- 43 orangutans, 12 pangolins, 4 leopard cats (to 30 September 2026) source ↗
- Kalimantan hotspots inside orangutan habitat
- About 88.6% (June to 5 September 2026) source ↗
- National burned area, January to July 2026
- 202,004.30 hectares, up 69% on the same period of 2025 source ↗
- All animals handled in 2026 disaster responses
- 254 animals (as of 29 September 2026) source ↗
How many animals have the 2026 fires affected?
On 22 September 2026 the Ministry of Forestry announced that 100 wild animals had been rescued from forest and land fires in six priority provinces: West, Central and South Kalimantan, Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra. Orangutans made up 53 of them, followed by pangolins. Eight animals died: snakes, monitor lizards, turtles and one orangutan.
In West Kalimantan, the BKSDA evacuated 24 animals from 18 sites between 1 August and 10 September 2026, including 15 orangutans. By 30 September the tally had reached 43 orangutans, 12 pangolins and 4 leopard cats, plus proboscis monkeys and silvered langurs. Separately, the ministry counted 254 animals across all 2026 natural-disaster responses up to 29 September.
Sources: Kemhut Catat 100 Satwa Dievakuasi Imbas Karhutla, 8 Mati ↗ · Kemenhut Selamatkan 100 Satwa Terdampak Karhutla, 53 Orang Utan ↗ · Kemenhut selamatkan 100 hewan liar dari area karhutla di 6 provinsi ↗ · Puluhan Satwa Liar Korban Karhutla di Kalimantan Barat Berhasil Diselamatkan ↗ · Pemadaman Karhutla di Kalbar Tersisa di Kayong Utara dan Ketapang, Habitat Orangutan Belum Aman ↗ · Hotspot High Confidence Meningkat, Kemenhut Perkuat Respons Lapangan dan Perlindungan Satwa Liar (SP.568/HKLN/09/2026) ↗
Where are the 2026 fires, and how much land has burned?
According to SiPongi, the ministry's monitoring system, 202,004.30 hectares of forest and land burned from January to July 2026, 69% more than in the same period of 2025. That figure does not yet cover August and early September, when hotspots in Kalimantan surged.
West Kalimantan's disaster agency (BPBD) recorded 48,536 hectares burned in the province up to 14 September 2026, across 10 districts and cities. On 1 October firefighting was still under way in Ketapang and Kayong Utara. Nationally, SiPongi detected 893 high-confidence hotspots on 29 September, up from 365 the day before. The ministry stresses that hotspots are satellite temperature anomalies, not a count of fires.
Sources: Indikasi Luas Kebakaran: Rekapitulasi Luas Kebakaran Hutan dan Lahan per Provinsi (SiPongi+) ↗ · Kebakaran Hutan Makin Gerus Habitat Orangutan ↗ · Pemadaman Karhutla di Kalbar Tersisa di Kayong Utara dan Ketapang, Habitat Orangutan Belum Aman ↗ · Hotspot High Confidence Meningkat, Kemenhut Perkuat Respons Lapangan dan Perlindungan Satwa Liar (SP.568/HKLN/09/2026) ↗
Why do the fires threaten orangutans?
A geospatial analysis reported by Mongabay Indonesia on 22 September 2026 overlaid SiPongi hotspots on maps of Bornean orangutan habitat. Of 124,655 hotspots in Kalimantan between June and 5 September 2026, about 88.6% fell inside orangutan habitat. The subspecies Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii, found in Central Kalimantan and in Ketapang and Kayong Utara, was the most exposed, with 99,717 hotspots.
Burned forest destroys food and nesting trees, the West Kalimantan BKSDA says, pushing orangutans into village gardens and towards homes. A 2016 population and habitat viability assessment (PHVA) estimated that about 57,000 orangutans remain on Borneo.
Sources: Kebakaran Hutan Makin Gerus Habitat Orangutan ↗ · Pemadaman Karhutla di Kalbar Tersisa di Kayong Utara dan Ketapang, Habitat Orangutan Belum Aman ↗ · Upaya Serius Kemenhut Rescue Satwa Liar Terdampak Karhutla (SP. 534/HKLN/09/2026) ↗
How is the smoke affecting orangutans?
On 30 August 2026 an adult male orangutan was found very weak and struggling to breathe in a villager's oil palm plot in Ketapang while the forest around him burned. He died the same day despite oxygen and intravenous fluids; the West Kalimantan BKSDA said changes in his lungs were suspected to be linked to smoke.
An adult male rescued in Kayong Utara on 12 September was coughing, very likely from smoke, the ministry said. Orangutans with burns and breathing problems are now in care. In Central Kalimantan, the wildlife rescue task force was reinforced on 5 September 2026 with oxygen cylinders and nebulisers.
Sources: BKSDA Kalbar Tangani Orangutan Sempurna yang Diduga Terdampak Asap Karhutla (SP.486/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ · Upaya Serius Kemenhut Rescue Satwa Liar Terdampak Karhutla (SP. 534/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ · Pemadaman Karhutla di Kalbar Tersisa di Kayong Utara dan Ketapang, Habitat Orangutan Belum Aman ↗ · Hadapi Dampak Karhutla, Satgas Penyelamatan Satwa Liar Kalteng Diperkuat (SP. 496/HKLN/09/2026) ↗
What do rescues on the ground look like?
Most rescues begin with a report from local people. In Kayong Utara on 12 September 2026, a BKSDA team and a rehabilitation organisation evacuated a mother orangutan with burns, her infant and an adult male; their release waits until the forest is safe. On 22 September, a pangolin tangled in netting around a chilli garden in Rantau Panjang village was released into Gunung Palung National Park by forest management unit staff, as the BKSDA team was busy with the fires.
In Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, officers brought a female orangutan down from a dead tree on still-smouldering land early on 26 September. She was unhurt and is due to be moved to the Lamandau Wildlife Reserve. In Kotawaringin Barat, a fire task force reported on 26 September that two orangutans seen on burned land had slipped back into the forest before they could be evacuated.
Sources: Upaya Serius Kemenhut Rescue Satwa Liar Terdampak Karhutla (SP. 534/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ · Terjerat Pukat di Kebun Warga, Trenggiling Diselamatkan di Kayong Utara ↗ · Induk Orang Utan hingga Trenggiling Dievakuasi dari Karhutla Kotim ↗ · Satgas Karhutla Kobar Temukan Dua Orangutan Terjebak Kabut Asap di Km 24 Mendawai Seberang ↗ · SOS: Tempat Rawat Orangutan Korban Karhutla di Kalimantan Barat Hampir Penuh ↗
Are the animals caught in the fires protected by law?
The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), proboscis monkey and silvered langur are all listed in the annex to Regulation P.106/2018. The IUCN classes all three orangutan species and the Sunda pangolin as Critically Endangered.
Article 21(2) of Law 5/1990, as amended by Law 32/2024, bans catching, injuring, keeping, transporting or trading protected animals, with prison terms of up to 15 years for individuals since Law 1/2026 removed the minimum on 2 January 2026. Keeping an orangutan or pangolin that has fled the fires is still a crime.
On the fires themselves, the ministry was handling 31 cases in 10 provinces as of 15 September 2026, and by 29 September had imposed administrative sanctions on 26 permit holders, including five permit revocations.
Sources: Peraturan Menteri LHK Nomor P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (lampiran) ↗ · Misteri bayi orang utan di hutan India, diselundupkan dari Indonesia atau Malaysia? ↗ · Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) ↗ · Undang-Undang Nomor 32 Tahun 2024 tentang Perubahan atas Undang-Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1990 tentang Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Hayati dan Ekosistemnya ↗ · Data Lengkap Penanganan Kasus Karhutla Kemenhut, Sanksi Tegas Menanti (SP. 529/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ · Karhutla 10.958 Hektare, Kemenhut Cabut 5 PBPH dan Bekukan 13 Izin ↗ · UU No. 1 Tahun 2026 tentang Penyesuaian Pidana (JDIH BPK) ↗
What happens next
- Healthy orangutans are being moved to safe habitat such as Gunung Palung National Park; the rest will be released once the forest is safe.
- Rehabilitation space is running short: at one centre in West Kalimantan, 28 of 35 evacuated orangutans were still in care on 28 September 2026.
- Sanctioned permit holders must restore burned land, and other fire cases are still under investigation.
- The hotspot analysts are calling for a fresh post-fire survey of Bornean orangutan numbers and habitat.
How to help
- If you find a wild animal affected by the fires, do not catch, move or feed it. Note where it is and its condition, then call the BKSDA: West Kalimantan 0811-577-6767, Central Kalimantan 0811-5218-500, East Kalimantan 0821-1333-8181, or your provincial office.
- Never buy or accept an animal offered for sale after the fires; report it to the forestry law enforcement directorate (Gakkum Kehutanan) or the BKSDA.
- If a wild animal bites or scratches you, go to a health facility straight away.
- Do not clear land by burning, and report fires to village officials or the local disaster agency (BPBD).
Support from outside Indonesia
If you live outside Indonesia and want to fund this work, you can help Kalimantan’s orangutans and wildlife affected by fires with World Animal Rescue Network.
Related site: PanduanHewan’s founder is also a director of World Animal Rescue Network. PanduanHewan itself does not accept donations, and this invitation is not directed at people in Indonesia.
Common questions
Where are the 2026 forest fires in Indonesia?
The six priority provinces are West, Central and South Kalimantan, Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra. On 29 September 2026 the most hotspots were in South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan.
How many hectares have burned in 2026?
SiPongi recorded 202,004.30 hectares from January to July 2026. West Kalimantan alone recorded 48,536 hectares up to 14 September. SiPongi had not published August and September figures as of 1 October 2026.
Source: Indikasi Luas Kebakaran: Rekapitulasi Luas Kebakaran Hutan dan Lahan per Provinsi (SiPongi+) ↗ · Pemadaman Karhutla di Kalbar Tersisa di Kayong Utara dan Ketapang, Habitat Orangutan Belum Aman ↗
What caused the 2026 forest fires?
According to West Kalimantan's disaster agency, a strong El Niño has lengthened dry spells, and fires are burning in dry peat. The ministry has also found fires on about 10,958 hectares held by forestry permit holders. The cause of each fire is established by investigation.
Source: Pemadaman Karhutla di Kalbar Tersisa di Kayong Utara dan Ketapang, Habitat Orangutan Belum Aman ↗ · Karhutla 10.958 Hektare, Kemenhut Cabut 5 PBPH dan Bekukan 13 Izin ↗
Is Indonesia still burning? Are the Kalimantan fires out?
Not entirely. On 1 October 2026 firefighting was continuing in Ketapang and Kayong Utara because rain had been insufficient, and national hotspots rose to 893 on 29 September.
Source: Pemadaman Karhutla di Kalbar Tersisa di Kayong Utara dan Ketapang, Habitat Orangutan Belum Aman ↗ · Hotspot High Confidence Meningkat, Kemenhut Perkuat Respons Lapangan dan Perlindungan Satwa Liar (SP.568/HKLN/09/2026) ↗
What should I do if I find an animal hurt by the fires?
Do not catch or move it. The ministry asks people to call officers, give the location and the animal’s condition, take photos if safe, and leave the rest to officers.
Source: Upaya Serius Kemenhut Rescue Satwa Liar Terdampak Karhutla (SP. 534/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ · Tangani Dampak Karhutla, Kemenhut Perkuat Call Center Penyelamatan Satwa (SP. 494/HKLN/09/2026) ↗
Animals in this story
A great ape of Borneo’s forests, including Kalimantan’s peat swamps. Population diversity and connections between habitats are central to its conservation.
A scaled, ant- and termite-eating mammal threatened by illegal trade. Climbing and secretive behaviour make direct observation difficult.
A Borneo-endemic primate closely linked to river forests, mangroves, and swamps. The male’s large nose is only one of its distinctive adaptations.
Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus). Silvered leaf monkeys use coastal, mangrove and riverine forest; presence at one site cannot stand for their status across Borneo or Sumatra.
The Philippine slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) is a small, venomous, nocturnal primate of coastal north and east Borneo, threatened by the pet trade.
The Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga) is a ground-dwelling, black-spotted civet with a black-and-white banded tail, common in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo.
The world’s smallest bear climbs trees and uses varied forest foods. Its Indonesian name, honey bear, does not describe its entire diet.
Sources and references
- Kemhut Catat 100 Satwa Dievakuasi Imbas Karhutla, 8 Mati ↗ — CNN Indonesia, 2026-09-22
- Kemenhut Selamatkan 100 Satwa Terdampak Karhutla, 53 Orang Utan ↗ — detikNews, 2026-09-22
- Pemadaman Karhutla di Kalbar Tersisa di Kayong Utara dan Ketapang, Habitat Orangutan Belum Aman ↗ — Kompas.id, 2026-10-01
- Kebakaran Hutan Makin Gerus Habitat Orangutan ↗ — Mongabay Indonesia, 2026-09-22
- Indikasi Luas Kebakaran: Rekapitulasi Luas Kebakaran Hutan dan Lahan per Provinsi (SiPongi+) ↗ — SiPongi+, Direktorat Pengendalian Kebakaran Hutan, Kementerian Kehutanan, 2026-10-01
- Hotspot High Confidence Meningkat, Kemenhut Perkuat Respons Lapangan dan Perlindungan Satwa Liar (SP.568/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ — Kementerian Kehutanan, 2026-09-30
- Kemenhut selamatkan 100 hewan liar dari area karhutla di 6 provinsi ↗ — ANTARA, 2026-09-22
- Puluhan Satwa Liar Korban Karhutla di Kalimantan Barat Berhasil Diselamatkan ↗ — InfoPublik (Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital), 2026-09-11
- Upaya Serius Kemenhut Rescue Satwa Liar Terdampak Karhutla (SP. 534/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ — Kementerian Kehutanan, 2026-09-17
- BKSDA Kalbar Tangani Orangutan Sempurna yang Diduga Terdampak Asap Karhutla (SP.486/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ — Kementerian Kehutanan, 2026-09-03
- Hadapi Dampak Karhutla, Satgas Penyelamatan Satwa Liar Kalteng Diperkuat (SP. 496/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ — Kementerian Kehutanan, 2026-09-05
- Terjerat Pukat di Kebun Warga, Trenggiling Diselamatkan di Kayong Utara ↗ — Suara Kalbar, 2026-09-25
- Induk Orang Utan hingga Trenggiling Dievakuasi dari Karhutla Kotim ↗ — CNN Indonesia, 2026-09-28
- Satgas Karhutla Kobar Temukan Dua Orangutan Terjebak Kabut Asap di Km 24 Mendawai Seberang ↗ — Berita Sampit, 2026-09-26
- SOS: Tempat Rawat Orangutan Korban Karhutla di Kalimantan Barat Hampir Penuh ↗ — Katadata, 2026-09-28
- Peraturan Menteri LHK Nomor P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (lampiran) ↗ — JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan, 2018-12-28
- Misteri bayi orang utan di hutan India, diselundupkan dari Indonesia atau Malaysia? ↗ — BBC News Indonesia, 2026-09-10
- Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) ↗ — IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group, 2026-04-30
- Undang-Undang Nomor 32 Tahun 2024 tentang Perubahan atas Undang-Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1990 tentang Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Hayati dan Ekosistemnya ↗ — JDIH BPK RI, 2024-08-07
- Data Lengkap Penanganan Kasus Karhutla Kemenhut, Sanksi Tegas Menanti (SP. 529/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ — Kementerian Kehutanan, 2026-09-15
- Karhutla 10.958 Hektare, Kemenhut Cabut 5 PBPH dan Bekukan 13 Izin ↗ — Periskop.id, 2026-09-29
- UU No. 1 Tahun 2026 tentang Penyesuaian Pidana (JDIH BPK) ↗ — JDIH BPK RI, 2026-01-02
- Tangani Dampak Karhutla, Kemenhut Perkuat Call Center Penyelamatan Satwa (SP. 494/HKLN/09/2026) ↗ — Kementerian Kehutanan, 2026-09-05
This story was written by the PanduanHewan editorial team from the reports and official sources listed; we do not copy other outlets. Facts may change as the story develops; the update date is shown at the top. Send a correction