Viral Orangutan Rescued In Indonesia Dies Hours After Suspected Wildfire Smoke Exposure

An adult male orangutan named Sampurna has sadly died just hours after he was rescued from near an oil palm plantation in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, where he was found extremely weak and struggling to breathe.

A necropsy later found pathological changes in several organs, particularly the lungs, heart and kidneys, with the lung damage suspected to be linked to prolonged smoke exposure.

Acute oxygen deprivation believed to have contributed to Sempurna’s death

A statement shared by Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry yesterday (3 September) confirmed that Sampurna died on 30 August at around 3:20 PM, just hours after he was rescued from Dusun Sempurna in Kuala Satong Village, Ketapang.

Sampurna was first reported by villagers at around 7:00 AM after he was found lying in a dry drainage ditch at a community-owned oil palm plantation. Rescuers from the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the International Animal Rescue Indonesia Foundation (YIARI) later found him struggling to move, unable to stand and suffering from severe breathing difficulties.

The team immediately provided emergency treatment, including oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids, before transporting Sampurna to YIARI’s rehabilitation centre at around 11:30 AM for further medical care.

Despite the efforts to save him, Sampurna’s condition continued to deteriorate. His breathing became increasingly shallow, while his oxygen saturation eventually became undetectable. Veterinary staff then performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but he was sadly pronounced dead at around 3:20 PM.

A necropsy conducted later found congestion and partial lung collapse, particularly in the lower sections of both lungs.

Based on his clinical condition and the necropsy findings, BKSDA said the abnormalities in Sampurna’s lungs were believed to be linked to prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke. The smoke may have impaired his lung function and caused acute hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.

“We deeply regret that Sampurna could not be saved”

In response, West Kalimantan BKSDA director Murlan Dameria Pane expressed his regret that Sampurna could not be saved despite the rescue team’s efforts.

“We deeply regret that Sampurna could not be saved. From the moment we received the report, BKSDA and YIARI immediately carried out the evacuation and provided medical treatment based on the animal’s condition. Further examinations were also conducted to determine his health condition and the factors believed to have contributed to his death,” he said.

Murlan also thanked members of the public for reporting Sampurna’s condition, saying that public cooperation plays an important role in wildlife rescue efforts, especially during emergencies involving sick, injured or animals affected by wildfires.

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