Balasore (Odisha), Sept 8: At least five orangutan babies — species not indigenous to India and categorised as critically endangered — were found and rescued in the Bichitrapur forest area under Bhograi block in Balasore district, the state forest department said on Monday.
State seeks central probe into likely smuggling
The Odisha government has asked the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) to investigate how the apes arrived in the forest, officials said. Forest and environment minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia told the media that authorities suspect involvement of an international wildlife smuggling racket.
"We suspect that they might have been released in the Balasore district forest which borders West Bengal by an international wildlife smuggling racket," Singhkhuntia said.
According to the department, the orangutans were located by a forest patrolling team on September 8 and veterinary staff from Simlipal National Park are currently monitoring their health. The rescued animals have been moved to Nandan Kanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar for further care and quarantine.
Conservation and welfare concerns
Orangutans are native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. The department noted the welfare implications of their presence in India, observing that young orangutans normally remain with their mothers for seven to nine years in the wild. Those facts heighten concerns that the infants may have been separated forcibly from their mothers prior to being transported.
Principal Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha said the Forest Department will undertake a detailed investigation. No arrests or recovery of equipment or transport-related evidence were reported at the time of the announcement.
Immediate official actions
- Rescue and medical assessment by veterinary doctors from Simlipal National Park.
- Transfer of the animals to Nandan Kanan Zoo, Bhubaneswar, for quarantine and ongoing care.
- Request by the state government for the WCCB to probe possible transnational wildlife trafficking links.
- Forest Department to conduct a detailed internal inquiry into the incident.
The rescue underscores the challenges posed by illegal wildlife trade and the movement of non-native species into Indian habitats. Officials cited market intelligence that places the value of each orangutan at ₹20–₹25 lakh on the international black market, a detail used by authorities to indicate the likely economic motive for smuggling.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of orangutan babies rescued | 5 |
| Forest area | Bichitrapur forest, Bhograi block, Balasore district |
| Immediate custody | Nandan Kanan Zoo, Bhubaneswar |
| Estimated black-market price (each) | ₹20–₹25 lakh |
Wildlife experts and enforcement agencies generally treat the translocation of non-native species as both a conservation threat and a biosecurity risk. While orangutans are arboreal great apes reliant on tropical forest ecosystems, the Balasore forest is not part of their natural range, raising questions about habitat suitability and long-term welfare.
The WCCB, a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that coordinates and supports enforcement against wildlife crime, has investigative powers across states. The state government's request for WCCB involvement signals intent to pursue a wider probe that may include cross-border trafficking routes and networks.
Officials have not disclosed any further operational details of the ongoing inquiry, including whether there were signs of recent human presence at the rescue site or any forensic evidence recovered. The Forest Department and veterinary team will complete health checks and quarantine procedures before decisions on longer-term rehabilitation are taken, the release said.
The discovery adds to a recent pattern of enforcement actions and seizures that have highlighted the continuing profitability of endangered wildlife on black markets and the enforcement challenge for Indian agencies tasked with protecting biodiversity and preventing illegal trade.
