Her mother had been sedated by the veterinary team to facilitate a safe rescue, leaving her lying motionless as the medication took effect. Seeing her mother in that condition, Irene cried out and clung to veterinarian Karmele Llano Sánchez, who held the young orangutan during the operation.
Karmele, the operational director of IAR Indonesia, said the mother orangutan may have been without adequate food for an extended period. She suspected that the animal had been starving for days or even weeks, potentially leaving her unable to produce sufficient breast milk for Irene.
The rescue was shared on social media by IAR Indonesia, which credited the Ministry of Forestry, through the West Kalimantan BKSDA, for its collaboration with the foundation.
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Orangutan Mother and Infant Receive Rescue Assistance
The rescue team found the pair in a section of forest that had been damaged by fire. The loss of vegetation can reduce the availability of food and shelter for orangutans, forcing them to survive in increasingly difficult conditions.
Irene’s mother’s apparent malnutrition raised concerns about the challenges faced by wildlife in fire-affected habitats. For an infant orangutan that still depends on its mother, the loss of food sources can also affect its nutrition and development.
Karmele shared a message alongside the footage, highlighting the need to protect orangutans from further suffering.
“No baby should ever have to go through something like this. Please help us save orangutans from suffering and extinction,” she wrote.
Karmele has worked in wildlife conservation in Indonesia since 2003. As a veterinarian and founder and chief executive of IAR Indonesia, she has been involved in efforts to rescue and rehabilitate animals affected by habitat destruction and other threats.
Following the rescue, Irene and her mother were taken for further assessment and care. They require close monitoring to address their physical condition and ensure that their nutritional needs are met. Further details about their recovery and the possibility of returning them to the wild have not been confirmed in the information provided.
Forest Fires Continue to Threaten Wildlife Habitats
The incident highlights how forest and land fires can affect wildlife beyond the immediate destruction of trees and vegetation. When habitats are damaged, animals can lose access to food, shelter and safe areas in which to raise their young.
Orangutans are particularly dependent on forest ecosystems, where they forage for food and spend much of their lives in trees. Habitat loss can force them into unfamiliar areas and increase their vulnerability to hunger, injury and encounters with humans.
The rescue footage also prompted emotional responses from social media users. One commenter wrote on an Instagram account that shared the incident on 20 October 2026: “Forgive us (humans), orangutans. To you, we are devils.”
