Bhubaneswar, September 8 (Udaipur Kiran) : In a startling discovery, five orangutans were rescued from a forest in the Bhograi block of Balasore district, Odisha, on Tuesday, prompting suspicions of wildlife trafficking and the potential involvement of an international smuggling racket.
Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Odisha’s Minister for Forests, Environment, and Climate Change, informed reporters that wildlife officials responded to reports of the orangutans’ presence and successfully rescued the animals, which are estimated to be between one and two years old.
These primates are native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, and while they have been spotted in some other parts of the Asian subcontinent, they are extremely rare in India. Khuntia remarked, “It is fortunate that such unique wildlife species have been observed in our state. They may have come in search of food, or there could be an international wildlife trafficking racket involved. Reports indicate that an orangutan can fetch between ₹2 million to ₹2.5 million in the international market.”
The minister further stated that the rescued orangutans will be taken to a designated location for quarantine and necessary medical treatment before being transferred to the Nandankanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar.
An investigation has been initiated by the forest department to ascertain how these unique species arrived in Odisha and whether any international wildlife trafficking networks are implicated. Additionally, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has been notified about the seizure and is expected to commence its own investigation into the matter.
Orangutans, known as “great apes,” are recognized for their intelligence and distinctive reddish-brown hair. They are critically endangered, with their populations declining due to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. Notably, there is no native population of orangutans in India, making this incident particularly alarming.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.