A team of veterinary experts has examined the health of five rescued orangutan cubs currently undergoing quarantine at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The experts found the animals to be in stable condition and advised zoo officials to continue medical care and gradually improve their diet.
The technical team included veterinary officers from Delhi Zoo and wildlife veterinarians from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun. They visited the quarantine facility on Saturday to conduct health screenings and assess the condition of the five young orangutans.
According to the zoo’s health bulletin, the cubs had body temperatures ranging between 98.6 and 101 degrees Fahrenheit during the examination. Their overall health was described as stable, while their acceptance of food remained normal.
The veterinary experts advised the zoo authorities to gradually increase the quantity of feed and begin introducing solid food into the cubs’ diet. They also recommended administering ivermectin or doramectin to help eliminate the animals’ worm load completely.
Earlier examinations had raised concerns about anaemia among three of the five orangutans. In-house blood tests conducted by the zoo had detected severe anaemia in one cub and mild anaemia in two others. The animals are therefore being kept under close observation with regular health checks.
The five orangutans were rescued from a forested area in Balasore district on September 8 and were subsequently brought to Nandankanan Zoo for quarantine and treatment. Officials have been conducting periodic examinations since their arrival.
Orangutans are not native to India and are primarily found in the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. Their presence in Odisha has therefore raised questions about how the animals reached the area.
The Odisha Police Special Task Force and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau are investigating the case amid suspicions of an international wildlife-smuggling network. Officials said that the investigation is continuing, although no major breakthrough has been reported so far.
For now, the focus remains on the health and recovery of the rescued cubs, with veterinary teams monitoring their condition and advising the zoo on feeding, treatment and long-term care.
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