Bhubaneswar: The investigation into the mysterious arrival of five baby orangutans in Odisha has intensified, with the Special Task Force (STF) and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) examining CCTV footage and possible road, air and sea routes used to transport the animals.
The five orangutans, rescued from a casuarina plantation near the Udayapur-Talsari area of Balasore district on September 9, have been shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, where they are being kept under quarantine and round-the-clock veterinary observation.
The animals are believed to be around six to eight months old. The group comprises three males and two females. Forest officials said the juveniles are in good health and have shown little fear of humans, raising questions about whether they had spent considerable time in captivity before being abandoned.
Forest officials are also examining how five infants came to be together. Female orangutans normally give birth to a single infant, making the presence of five young animals at the same location particularly unusual.
A black SUV seen in CCTV footage from the area has emerged as one of the leads being examined by investigators. The agencies are also checking footage from possible transit points and questioning people who may have information about how the animals reached Balasore. However, no trafficking network or suspect has been conclusively identified so far.
Odisha Forest Department officials have ruled out the possibility of the orangutans naturally reaching the state, as the species is native to Southeast Asian islands, particularly Borneo and Sumatra. Regional Chief Conservator of Forests Prakash Chand Gogineni has said it is not yet clear whether the animals were wild-caught or captive-bred. Their apparent familiarity with humans, however, indicates possible prior human contact.
“Their behaviour with humans and their ability to clearly respond to human behaviour suggest they are used to humans and have spent a bit of time with them,” Gogineni was quoted as saying by The Down To Earth.
The state government has also expressed concern over possible wildlife trafficking. Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia has said investigators are looking into the possibility of an international network being involved. The commercial international trade in orangutans is prohibited under CITES.
At Nandankanan, the rescued animals are being kept in a temperature-controlled quarantine facility. They are being monitored round the clock and provided a specialised diet, including bananas and apples at regular intervals. Zoo authorities are also using toys and slings as part of their care.
The immediate priority remains the health and safety of the five juveniles, while the investigation seeks to establish where they came from, how they entered India and who abandoned them in the Balasore forest
