Orangutan Dies After Haze Exposure
Sampurna, 20, struggled to breathe before succumbing to lung abnormalities in Indonesia's wildfire-hit West Kalimantan
A 20-year-old male orangutan named Sampurna has died in Indonesia after exposure to haze fires, with abnormalities found in its lungs. The orangutan was found by residents on Sunday morning in Ketapang district, West Kalimantan, an area affected by wildfires.
The orangutan was unable to stand and was struggling to breathe when a joint team of rescuers from the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency and the Indonesian Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Forest and Wildlife (YIARI) arrived.
A team of veterinarians provided Sampurna with oxygen and intravenous fluids before taking him to a YIARI rehabilitation centre. Despite these efforts, the orangutan's condition deteriorated and he died later that day.
West Kalimantan natural conservation chief Murlan Dameria Pane expressed regret that Sampurna could not be saved. The Forestry Ministry also released a statement about the orangutan's death.
## Why it matters The death of Sampurna highlights the impact of haze fires on wildlife in Indonesia. The country has been experiencing wildfires, which have affected not only humans but also animals, including endangered species like orangutans. The incident serves as a reminder of the need to protect and conserve Indonesia's natural resources and wildlife.
The death of Sampurna is a loss for conservation efforts in Indonesia, and it underscores the importance of addressing the issue of haze fires and their effects on the environment and wildlife.
