September 3, 2026 | 05:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Forestry Ministry confirmed the death of an orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) named Sempurna, who was rescued after suffering from respiratory issues amid haze conditions in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan.
In a statement confirmed from Jakarta on Thursday, Murlan Dameria Pane, the head of the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), expressed her condolences for Sempurna's death. She also extended appreciation to residents who reported the orangutan's presence prior to the rescue mission on August 30.
"We deeply regret that Sempurna could not be saved. Upon receiving the report, we immediately moved to rescue the animal and provided medical treatment. Further examinations were also conducted to determine its health condition and any factors suspected to have contributed to its death," said Murlan.
He explained that Sempurna was found in an extremely weak condition and experiencing respiratory problems in Sempurna Hamlet, Kuala Satong Village, North Matan Hilir District, Ketapang Regency.
Sempurna was first reported by the public at around 7:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time. BKSDA and the nonprofit Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia Foundation (YIARI) immediately initiated rescue efforts.
The team then administered first aid through oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids before taking Sempurna to the YIARI rehabilitation center around 11:30 a.m. for further medical treatment.
However, Sempurna's condition worsened. Around 2:00 p.m. the same day, his breathing became shallower, with oxygen saturation undetectable. After showing signs of respiratory arrest, the team performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Sempurna was finally pronounced dead at 3:20 p.m. Jakarta time.
A necropsy was performed on September 1, 2026, which revealed pathological changes in several organs, particularly the lungs, heart, and kidneys.
Based on the clinical history and examination results, the pathological changes in the lungs are suspected to be related to smoke exposure, which can potentially impair lung function and cause acute hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen in the body.
This condition is suspected to have contributed to cardiovascular dysfunction, which ultimately led to Sempurna's death.
Regarding this case, Murlan underscored the importance of public reports in wildlife rescue efforts, especially in emergency situations where the animals were found sick, injured, or suffering from wildfires.
"We urge residents to swiftly report any wildlife in need of assistance to allow officers to take immediate action," she said.
Read: Who Is Sampurna, the Orangutan Rescued from Kalimantan Wildfire?
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