Orangutan smuggling probe intensifies after five babies found in Odisha

Five baby orangutans, believed to be Sumatran, were discovered in the Bhograi forest area of Balasore, Odisha, sparking an investigation into an international wildlife trafficking network. The primates, estimated to be between six months and 1.5 years old, are currently being held in quarantine at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar.

To manage their care, the Odisha government has formed a five-member technical committee including experts from the Wildlife Institute of India and Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens. The animals are receiving 24-hour medical attention, a specialized diet, and therapeutic measures such as classical music to combat psychological trauma.

Investigators from the Special Task Force (STF) are tracing a black SUV seen on CCTV moving between Digha, West Bengal, and the discovery site in Odisha. Authorities are looking into whether a transaction occurred at a hotel in Digha, with unconfirmed reports suggesting high prices per animal.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry is coordinating with Indian authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the orangutans to Southeast Asia once genetic testing confirms their origin and judicial permissions are secured.