CCTV Shows Black SUV Near Odisha Forest Before Orangutan Discovery
A black Mahindra Thar was captured on CCTV near the Odisha forest where five orangutans were found. An STF probe is underway.
A day after five orangutans were discovered in a forest in Odisha's Balasore district, investigators are examining CCTV footage that shows a black Mahindra Thar SUV in the vicinity the previous night. The vehicle was recorded passing through the area at approximately 11:25 pm and returning about 15 minutes later, raising questions about its possible link to the animals' arrival.
The orangutans, a species not indigenous to India, were rescued on Tuesday. Their sudden appearance has prompted a multi-agency investigation, with a four-member special task force (STF) now leading the inquiry. The rescued apes have been moved to Nandan Kanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar, where they are currently in quarantine.
Odisha Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said that doctors from the Forest Department are attending to the animals, with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) also monitoring the situation. He added that expert doctors from national wildlife authorities could be brought in if required.
Singhkhuntia noted that the orangutans might have been transported into the state by air, water, or rail. He estimated that each orangutan could be worth between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 25 lakh in the international market. The minister has urged the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) to investigate, and has asked airports, railway stations, and ports to verify their CCTV footage to trace how the animals were brought in.