Much has been written about the plight of orangutans clinging to life in the dwindling forests of Indonesia. But where words fail, a single image can say so much.

Volunteers from International Animal Rescue (IAR) were working on the ground in Borneo to save the lives of animals affected by a massive wildfire ravaging the island's forests when the group came to the rescue of a desperate orangutan and her baby - victims not only of the blaze, but of human cruelty as well.

"They were forced out of their forest home as a result of the fires and ended up in a village. The villagers were frightened and threw things at the terrified mother before attempting to capture and tie her up," IAR wrote in a post online. "Fortunately our team got to her just in time."

A photograph of the scene shows that rescue in heart-wrenching detail: the anguished mother's look of relief to feel the touch of a gentle hand, as if she suddenly knew she and the infant at her breast were going to be OK.