📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Jefri Tarigan
National
Odisha to Repatriate Orangutans: Law Governs Trade and Return of Animals
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 16 Sep 2026, 11:16 AM
👁 8
Odisha authorities plan to repatriate captive orangutans, citing wildlife protection laws that regulate trade and ensure proper return of animals to their native habitats.
Odisha has announced plans to repatriate several orangutans currently held in captivity, a move that aligns with the country’s wildlife protection framework.
Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), any trade or movement of endangered species requires stringent permits and oversight. The law mandates that animals be returned to suitable habitats when feasible, ensuring their welfare and conservation.
The repatriation process will involve coordination between state forest departments, the Central Zoo Authority, and conservation NGOs. Health checks, quarantine protocols, and secure transport arrangements are being arranged to guarantee the animals’ safety during relocation.
This initiative reflects Odisha’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and compliance with national and international regulations, aiming to safeguard the orangutan population and promote ecological balance.
Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), any trade or movement of endangered species requires stringent permits and oversight. The law mandates that animals be returned to suitable habitats when feasible, ensuring their welfare and conservation.
The repatriation process will involve coordination between state forest departments, the Central Zoo Authority, and conservation NGOs. Health checks, quarantine protocols, and secure transport arrangements are being arranged to guarantee the animals’ safety during relocation.
This initiative reflects Odisha’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and compliance with national and international regulations, aiming to safeguard the orangutan population and promote ecological balance.