Five Orangutans Found in Odisha Forest; STF Probes Suspected Smuggling
Odisha Police STF and Forest Department investigate the mysterious appearance of five young orangutans in a Balasore forest, suspected to be a case of wildlife trafficking.
The Odisha Police Special Task Force (STF) has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the rescue of five young orangutans from a coastal forest in Balasore district. The Forest and Environment Department has also sought assistance from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) to probe what appears to be an illegal wildlife trafficking operation.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (STF) Kanwar Vishal Singh confirmed that a team has been dispatched to Balasore to begin the inquiry. "Forest officials have been very cooperative," he said, adding that discussions will be held on how the animals came to be spotted in the area.
Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia stated that a multi-agency investigation has been initiated. The five orangutans — three males and two females — have been quarantined at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, where they are being cared for under prescribed protocols and in consultation with central agencies. A decision on public display will only be made after obtaining permission from the Central Zoo Authority.
The orangutans, which are native to Indonesia and Malaysia and are not found in the wild in India, were discovered on Tuesday in a casuarina plantation in the Udayapur-Talsari forest area. A Forest Department patrolling team rescued them after being alerted. Regional Chief Conservator of Forests Prakash Chand Gogineni suggested the animals may have ended up there following a botched transit operation.
At the zoo, the animals were initially fed bananas and apples, with younger ones given mashed potatoes. They are being monitored round-the-clock by veterinarians. Nandankanan has prior experience with the species, having housed an orangutan for nearly 16 years; its 41-year-old female, Bini, died in 2019 of age-related ailments.
Forest officials note that orangutan trafficking cases have previously been reported in Maharashtra, Assam, and Mizoram since 2020. The STF now faces the task of tracing the transport route — whether by sea or land — and identifying those involved. "The investigation is at a very nascent stage," Mr. Singh said, declining to speculate on clues or possible involvement of poachers.