Five baby orangutans spotted in Odisha forest, rescue under way
Five juvenile orangutans were found near Badapai village in Bhograi, Balasore. They were rescued and brought to the forest office; four are healthy and under veterinary care while investigations into possible smuggling continue.
Key takeaways
- Five baby orangutans were rescued near Badapai village forest in Bhograi, Balasore district, Odisha, around 6 am.
- Four of the five babies are healthy and being treated; veterinary doctors are examining them, and they are reportedly eating and drinking ORS.
- The incident is being treated as potentially linked to wildlife smuggling; investigations and a formal wildlife-law complaint are in progress, with police involvement and a WCCB probe anticipated.
What Happened
The sighting occurred around 6 am near the Badapai village forest in the Bhograi area of Balasore district, Odisha. Local residents reported five tiny orangutans in the forest and authorities intervened as crowds gathered, prompting a rescue operation. Forest officials confirmed that five baby orangutans were rescued and taken to the forest office. Four of the five appeared healthy, and they were described as eating food and drinking ORS, with veterinary doctors examining and treating them. The orangutans are measured at about 1 to 1.5 feet in height and are considered juveniles based on size.
Officials noted that orangutans do not naturally inhabit Odisha's forests and indicated the possibility that they were brought into the state through a wildlife-smuggling network. An investigation has been launched by field officials to determine how the primates arrived in the area, with the forest department also stating that a formal wildlife-law complaint has been filed and that police assistance is being sought to identify any individuals or networks involved.
In parallel, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), a Centre-backed agency, was said to be set to probe the matter as part of ongoing state government inquiries into potential international trafficking. A combing operation was initiated to search nearby forest areas for further signs or animals, and the forest department said the details of any involvement would emerge from thorough investigations.
Officials indicated that the orangutans are likely to be relocated to the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar after completing necessary procedures. A team from Nandankanan has traveled to Balasore to coordinate the transfer, after which the animals would be quarantined for several days at the zoo. Historical context noted that Nandankanan previously housed a single orangutan named Binny, who died in February 2019 at age 41, with the animal having been brought to Pune in 2003 and later from Singapore before that period.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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