📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Fitriyantibung
Science
Five orangutans rescued in Odisha, probe launched to trace their arrival
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 10 Sep 2026, 02:48 AM
👁 8
Five orangutans have been relocated to a sanctuary in Odisha, prompting officials to investigate how the primates arrived in the state.
Five orangutans were recently found and moved to a wildlife sanctuary in Odisha after authorities discovered the primates in an unexpected location. The rescue operation was carried out by the state forest department in coordination with local police, who secured the animals and arranged for their transport to a protected facility.
Following the rescue, the department announced a formal inquiry to determine how the orangutans entered the state. Officials from the wildlife crime control unit and the forest department will examine transport records, possible illegal trade routes, and any breaches of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Orangutans are not native to India, and their presence raises concerns about illegal wildlife trafficking or accidental import. The probe aims to identify whether the animals were smuggled, escaped from a private collection, or arrived through another channel, and to prevent future incidents.
State officials have assured the public that the rescued primates will receive proper care and that any individuals found responsible for their illegal entry will face strict legal action under existing wildlife laws.
Following the rescue, the department announced a formal inquiry to determine how the orangutans entered the state. Officials from the wildlife crime control unit and the forest department will examine transport records, possible illegal trade routes, and any breaches of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Orangutans are not native to India, and their presence raises concerns about illegal wildlife trafficking or accidental import. The probe aims to identify whether the animals were smuggled, escaped from a private collection, or arrived through another channel, and to prevent future incidents.
State officials have assured the public that the rescued primates will receive proper care and that any individuals found responsible for their illegal entry will face strict legal action under existing wildlife laws.