JAKARTA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian authorities have evacuated 11 orangutans from a rehabilitation center as a forest fire approached the facility in East Kalimantan province, the local conservation agency said Thursday.
Ari Wibawanto, head of the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), said an emergency status was activated at the Jejak Pulang Forest School in Samboja, Kutai Kartanegara regency, on the afternoon of Sept. 1 after smoke and flames began approaching the area.
The 11 orangutans undergoing rehabilitation were subsequently evacuated to a temporary care facility.
"Post-evacuation checks showed that all 11 orangutans were healthy and safe from smoke exposure," Ari said.
He added that rehabilitation would continue at the temporary facility through feeding, activities and enrichment programs aimed at maintaining the orangutans' health and natural behavior. ■