Five young orangutans were rescued from a forested area in Odisha’s Balasore district on Tuesday, raising concerns about a possible international wildlife trafficking network.
The critically endangered animals were found inside the Ranakotha Protected Reserved Forest in Ranakotha Badapahi during routine patrolling at around 6am. According to Odisha forest officials, the orangutans are estimated to be between one and two years old.
Orangutans are not native to India and are found naturally in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Their unexpected presence in Odisha has therefore prompted the state forest and wildlife department to investigate how the animals were brought into the country.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha said the department was trying to determine the origin of the animals and how they reached Odisha. Police have also been informed about the discovery.
The five orangutans will be shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park near Bhubaneswar by a team from the zoo. Officials said the animals will initially be kept in quarantine before a decision is taken regarding their long-term care and rehabilitation.
The rescue has also raised concerns over the illegal exotic pet trade. Orangutans are sometimes trafficked for private collections, tourism-related entertainment and the high-end exotic animal market. Officials said an orangutan can reportedly command a price of around ₹25 lakh in illegal markets.
Odisha Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia said the discovery had raised suspicions of wildlife trafficking and that an international network could potentially be involved. He said an Assistant Chief Conservator of Forests would conduct an investigation into the matter.
The animals are great apes known for their reddish-brown hair and largely tree-dwelling lifestyle. The word “orangutan” comes from Malay and Indonesian words that broadly mean “person of the forest.”
Officials are now examining how the animals entered Odisha, whether they were being transported for commercial purposes and whether other people or organisations may be linked to the suspected trafficking operation.
The case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by authorities in preventing the illegal movement of endangered wildlife across international borders. The forest department’s investigation is expected to provide more details about the animals’ origin and the circumstances surrounding their arrival in Odisha.
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