Two orangutan carcasses were reportedly found floating in the Kumai River in Central Kalimantan on 10 October, prompting concern over the deaths of the protected animals. Authorities have yet to establish the cause of death, and a possible link to nearby forest fires remains unconfirmed.
Two orangutan carcasses were found in the waters of the Kumai River, near the Sekonyer River, within the Tanjung Puting National Park area in West Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.
The two protected animals were discovered on Saturday, 10 October 2026. One carcass was captured floating in the water in a video that subsequently circulated on social media. Another orangutan was reportedly found at the same location, although its discovery was not recorded on video.
The findings have raised concerns about the welfare of orangutans in the area. However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear, and further investigation is needed to establish what happened.
The report emerged amid concerns over forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan, which can damage wildlife habitats and force animals to move in search of food and shelter. Authorities have not confirmed any connection between the fires and the deaths of the two orangutans.
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Search Conducted After Carcass Report Circulates
According to a report by Kompas.com published on 16 October, the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), working with conservation organisation Orangutan Foundation International (OFI), conducted a search along the Kumai River on 14 October.
Handi Nasoka, head of the BKSDA’s Region II office in Pangkalan Bun, said officials had received information about an orangutan carcass reportedly seen floating in the river.
“Yes, that’s correct. We saw information on social media on 13 October regarding the discovery of an orangutan carcass floating in the Kumai River,” Handi said, as quoted by detikKalimantan.
However, the search did not locate the reported carcass.
“However, the search conducted by the joint team has not yet yielded results. The carcass in question was not found during the search,” he said.
The search findings did not establish the condition of either animal or the cause of death. Further investigation and the recovery of the remains, if possible, would be necessary to determine what happened.
The discrepancy between the two reported discoveries and the results of the search also highlights the need for authorities to verify the details and establish the sequence of events.
Forest Fires Raise Concerns Over Wildlife Habitats
The discovery has drawn attention to the threats facing orangutans in Central Kalimantan, where forest and land fires can affect habitats around protected areas.
Orangutans depend on forests for food, shelter and nesting sites. When fires destroy vegetation, the animals may be forced to move through unfamiliar or exposed areas in search of resources. Smoke and habitat loss can also affect other wildlife living in the same ecosystems.
However, there is no confirmed evidence that the two orangutans died while fleeing fires. Their cause of death remains unknown, and it would be premature to attribute the incident to any specific environmental factor without further findings.
As a protected species, orangutans are subject to conservation measures intended to safeguard their populations and habitats. Establishing the circumstances surrounding these deaths is therefore important for both wildlife protection and any potential follow-up investigation.
