Five Young Orangutans Found Abandoned in Odisha Plantation Rescued

In a rare and unusual incident, the Odisha Forest Department rescued five young orangutans on Tuesday after they were discovered abandoned in a casuarina plantation in the Udayapur-Talsari forest area of Balasore district. The animals, which are not native to India, were found during routine patrolling in the Udayapur section of the Jaleswar Range.

Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF) Prakash Chand Gogineni confirmed the rescue, stating that the group comprises three males and two females. The orangutans, estimated to be between six months and one year old, have been shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park for a thorough medical examination. Officials noted that the animals do not appear to have sustained any visible injuries.

Authorities suspect the orangutans were part of a failed transit operation. "It appears to be a botched-up transit operation. The orangutans were apparently brought here and subsequently abandoned in the casuarina forest," Mr. Gogineni said. The exact origin point of the animals remains unclear, and the department is yet to determine where they were brought from along the Odisha coast.

A case will be registered under the Wildlife Protection Act as investigations proceed. A dedicated team has been deployed in the Badapai–Ranakatha area to trace how the orangutans reached the location and to identify any individuals involved. Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia confirmed that the matter is under active investigation.

Meanwhile, the Forest and Wildlife Department has alerted its coastal divisions, directing them to search for any other orangutans that may have been abandoned in the region. The rescue drew considerable public attention, with hundreds of local residents gathering in the morning to catch a glimpse of the young animals.

Nandankanan Zoological Park has previously housed an orangutan. In 2019, its 41-year-old female orangutan, Bini, died of age-related ailments. Bini had been brought to the park from Pune Zoo in 2003. Forest department sources indicated that while the presence of orangutans outside their natural habitat is a concern, their arrival could be significant for the zoo. A final decision on whether the animals will be kept for public viewing will be made by central and state authorities.