Orangutans rescued from Odisha forest: State begins probe; great apes quarantined at Nandankanan Zoo

Orangutans are native to Indonesia and Malaysia, and the endangered great apes are not found in the wild in India. Photo: X/@ANI The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) began a probe into the circumstances surrounding the rescue of five young orangutans from a coastal forest in Balasore district. The Odisha Forest and Environment Department has also approached the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), seeking its expertise in investigating cases involving the illegal trafficking of wild animals.“We have sent a team to Balasore to initiate a probe. Forest officials have been very cooperative. We will also hold discussions on the circumstances under which these orangutans were spotted,” said Kanwar Vishal Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police, STF.Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said a thorough investigation involving multiple agencies, including the WCCB, had been initiated into what appeared to be a case of wildlife smuggling.“The five orangutans, including three males and two females, have been quarantined after being brought to Nandankanan Zoological Park. The park authorities are taking care of the animals in accordance with prescribed protocols and in consultation with central agencies,” Mr. Singhkhuntia said.The Minister said a decision on whether the orangutans would eventually be kept on public display would be taken only after obtaining permission from the Central Zoo Authority.On Tuesday (September 8, 2026), the five young orangutans, which are not native to India, were mysteriously found in a casuarina plantation in the Udayapur-Talsari forest area of Balasore district. After being alerted, a patrolling team of the Forest Department rushed to the spot and rescued them.According to Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF) Prakash Chand Gogineni, the orangutans could have ended up in the Odisha forest following a botched transit operation. Orangutans are native to Indonesia and Malaysia, and the endangered great apes are not found in the wild in India.Initially, the animals were fed bananas and apples, while the younger ones were given mashed potatoes and apples, according to sources at Nandankanan. The animals are being monitored round-the-clock by veterinarians and zoo staff.Nandankanan Zoological Park has prior experience in caring for orangutans. The zoo had housed an orangutan for nearly 16 years in an enclosure for public viewing. In 2019 its 41-year-old female orangutan named Bini, died of age-related and associated ailments. Bini had been brought to Nandankanan from Pune Zoo on November 20, 2003.According to the Forest Department, cases of orangutan trafficking are not new to India. Orangutans have previously been rescued in Maharashtra, Assam and Mizoram, all after 2020.The STF faces the challenging task of tracing the route through which the animals may have been transported — whether by sea or land — and identifying those involved in the suspected trafficking network.“The investigation is at a very nascent stage. We do not want to speculate on any clues or the involvement of any poachers,” Mr. Singh said. Published - September 09, 2026 12:23 pm IST