TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -A team from Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia has found another bekantan victim to forest fire in Kalimantan. The seven-year-old bekantan, later named Tom, was found in Marabahan, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan on Friday October 16.

Tom was found with serious burns on its feet and hand palms. The poor animal even lost one of its left-hand fingers due to the fire. According to a SBI Chairman Amalia Rezeki, Tom used to live in the area together with ten to fifteen other bekantan in a group.

“They had lived there for around a year. We had intended to perform evacuation since long time, but we had only do this now. We have yet to know other bekantan’s whereabouts, whether they died or on the run,” said Amalia to Tempo at SBI area on Friday, October 16.

Tom is receiving medical and psychological treatment at SBI conservancy. It is predicted that the animal needs at least one month to recover. Once Tom is recovered, SBI would release into conservation area.

Amalia also claims to have received information that forest fire in Pabuangan Pantai, Marampiau, Candi laras, Sungai Rutas, had burnt tens bekantan.

“The information says lots of bekantan had died,” Amalia added.

SBI records around three thousand bekantan inhabit areas outside of the conservation area. If the forest fire continues to spread, it would decrease bekantan population.

DIANANTA P. SUMEDI