Indonesia forest fires: Rescued orangutan and her baby released back into the wild

A female orangutan and her baby, who were rescued from Indonesia's raging wildfires, have been released into a protected forest area where they are being monitored. Animal welfare group, International Animal Rescue (IAR) had rescued the mother and baby orangutan on 14 October.

The Asian apes were forced out of their home as a result of the fires in Indonesia's west Kalimantan. According to rescue workers, the mother and baby orangutan ended up in a village while trying to escape the blaze but fell prey to stoning by furious villagers.

"The villagers were frightened and threw things at the terrified mother before attempting to capture and tie her up," IAR said in a statement. Its workers found the orangutan with a rope tied around its waist and a frightened baby that was clinging on tightly.

The adult ape suffered some minor skin wounds. She was sedated and treated with intravenous fluids. Rescuers said that the female simian was "extremely thin but still had milk to nourish the baby." The baby had no injuries.

The mother and baby orangutans have been released into the wild after nearly a month of recovery. The pair are reportedly adapting well in a conservation area, the organisation said.

West Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra Island have been affected the most by the forest fires that have forced evacuation of hundreds of orangutans. As many as 16 baby orangutans face the risk of death as they are being treated in an intensive care unit for a respiratory problem caused by the smoke from the fire.