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Crime
Five juvenile orangutans rescued from Balasore forest in Odisha
✍️ TOI City
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 11:40 AM
👁 25
Forest officials in Balasore, Odisha, rescued five abandoned juvenile orangutans after villagers reported them dangling from trees, and a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau probe is under way.
Villagers in Balasore district of Odisha alerted forest officials when they saw five young orangutans hanging from tree branches in a local forest. The animals, described as juvenile and apparently abandoned, were approached by forest personnel who secured them without the use of tranquilizers, ensuring the apes were not harmed during the rescue.
The forest department confirmed that the orangutans are not native to India and suspect that they were smuggled into the country as part of a trans‑oceanic wildlife‑trafficking operation. The unusual presence of the Southeast Asian primates prompted immediate involvement of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), which has now taken over the investigation to trace the source and possible network behind the illegal import.
Authorities are conducting forensic and DNA tests on the rescued juveniles to determine their exact origin and to aid in any future legal proceedings. The rescued orangutans are being handed over to a wildlife rehabilitation centre where they will receive veterinary care and monitoring before any decision on their repatriation or long‑term care is made.
The incident highlights growing concerns over illegal wildlife trade routes that may extend across oceans, bringing exotic species into Indian forests. Officials have urged the public to report any suspicious wildlife activity promptly, emphasizing that early detection can prevent further trafficking and protect native ecosystems.
The forest department confirmed that the orangutans are not native to India and suspect that they were smuggled into the country as part of a trans‑oceanic wildlife‑trafficking operation. The unusual presence of the Southeast Asian primates prompted immediate involvement of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), which has now taken over the investigation to trace the source and possible network behind the illegal import.
Authorities are conducting forensic and DNA tests on the rescued juveniles to determine their exact origin and to aid in any future legal proceedings. The rescued orangutans are being handed over to a wildlife rehabilitation centre where they will receive veterinary care and monitoring before any decision on their repatriation or long‑term care is made.
The incident highlights growing concerns over illegal wildlife trade routes that may extend across oceans, bringing exotic species into Indian forests. Officials have urged the public to report any suspicious wildlife activity promptly, emphasizing that early detection can prevent further trafficking and protect native ecosystems.