October 2026, Borneo is burning. Forest fires worsened by El Niño conditions are raging across landscapes, 800,000 hectares of prime tropical forest are lost, wildlife is trapped.

NOVITA

In September 2026, a young female orangutan named Novita was found with severe burns to her hands and feet following a forest fire in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. Despite the horrendous pain from severe burns to her hands and feet, in desperation Novita climbed high in the remaining tree as the forest fire crackled and burned closer and closer to her makeshift nest. Hope was fading fast, she was alone, terrified and desperate. Clinging precariously in her temporary refuge, who knows what thoughts were going through her mind? Her world was upside down, the familiar comforting sounds and smells of her forest sanctuary a distant memory - now it was just about survival. Her injuries required urgent intervention.

Following her rescue by BKSDA Central Kalimantan, working in coordination with the BOS Foundation (BOSF), Novita was transported to the BOSF Nyaru Menteng centre for veterinary care.

Forest and land fires can pose a serious threat to orangutans and their habitats. Novita’s case highlights the importance of coordinated rescue efforts, specialised veterinary treatment, and continued support for orangutans affected by these emergencies.  

NOVITA: RECEIVING URGENT SPECIALIST MEDICAL CARE

Safely rescued from her plight, Novita was rushed to the veterinary clinic at the BOSF centre at Nyaru Menteng and the team sprang into action providing Novita with the care she desperately needed. Pain relief and soothing dressings helped but the damage was done - her hands and feet raw from the burns.

OVAID immediately contacted the Nyaru Menteng vet team to see how we could help, with our network of contacts, we set up a direct line with Georgie Hollis (Bandaging Angels & Aluco Health Ltd) veterinary wound care expert, who in turn was able to bring Professor Steven Jeffery into the group for specialist advice. Professor Steven is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at City University.  Serving with the British Army for over 40 years including 4 tours of Afghanistan during his service, he is an active researcher in the field of wounds and a member of the Wound Healing Practice Development Unit at City University, Birmingham, U.K.

 

HOW YOUR DONATION WILL DIRECTLY HELP NOVITA

Novita is out of immediate danger, the BOSF vet team have worked tirelessly to provide great care with advice from Prof. Steven and an incredible advanced wound product from Medical Ethics (who kindly rushed the product to the vet team from Jakarta). Having lost several toes already, Novita's wounds now require specialist plastic surgery treatment to help her stand a chance of successfully healing. Prof. Steven has generously taken time out from his busy schedule and is currently applying his expertise on the ground in Borneo helping the BOSF vet team with Novita's case. OVAID is raising urgent funds to cover all costs for this current 10 day project and to help with any ongoing treatments. Along with his vast experience in burns therapy and plastic surgery, Steven has also taken specialist equipment with him and is providing ground-breaking advanced treatments such as the Negative Pressure Wound Therapy system from Aluco Health, to provide Novita with the best and fastest possible chance of recovery. 

THE PROGNOSIS

NOVITA has a long road ahead to fully heal. Even with this expert help it may not be possible to resolve Novita's wounds, but without it, incapacitating surgery such as amputation would be an almost inevitable consequence. We all want to try to avoid this, as it would negatively impact on her future chances of one day returning to the wild. We want to help the BOSF vets with Novita’s ongoing treatments and any possible further specialist surgeries. WITH YOUR HELP we will be able to offer Novita the best state of the art care - as she deserves nothing but the best that we can all jointly provide her.

OVAID would like to express their sincere thanks to;

Professor Steven Jeffery, Georgie Hollis of Aluco Health Ltd www.alucohealth.com, Medical Ethics www.medicalethics.me & Euro Surgical www.eurosurgical.co.uk. who have all generously donated their time equipment and products at very short notice to help us help Novita.

Most of all thank you for your support, for being part of this mission to improve Novita’s outlook and as always, for your generosity.

Dr Nigel Hicks & Sara Fell Hicks 

Orangutan Veterinary Aid (OVAID) Co Founders 🦧🧡