Wildlife / Indonesia Steps In After Five Orangutans Rescued In Odisha's Baleshwar
·58 mins ago·3 min read
Key Points
Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry is coordinating with Indian authorities on the care, identification and possible repatriation of five infant orangutans rescued in Baleshwar.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 11: Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry has stepped in following the rescue of five infant orangutans from Odisha's Baleshwar district, calling for their origin to be verified and saying it is working with Indian authorities on their possible repatriation.
In a statement issued in Jakarta on September 10, the ministry said it was closely following the case and had begun coordinating with authorities in India and Indonesia over the animals' care, identification and possible return to Indonesia.
Five Orangutans Found In Bhograi
The five animals, estimated to be between 1 and 1.5 years old, were found by villagers clinging to trees in a casuarina forest in the Bichitrapur area of Bhograi block on the morning of September 8.
Forest officials rescued them and shifted them to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar later that night, where they are currently being cared for.
In a statement issued in Jakarta on September 10, the ministry said it was closely following the case and had begun coordinating with authorities in India and Indonesia over the animals' care, identification and possible return to Indonesia.
Five Orangutans Found In Bhograi
The five animals, estimated to be between 1 and 1.5 years old, were found by villagers clinging to trees in a casuarina forest in the Bichitrapur area of Bhograi block on the morning of September 8.
Forest officials rescued them and shifted them to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar later that night, where they are currently being cared for.
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DNA Tests To Establish Origin
Indonesia's ministry said an initial assessment of the animals' physical and morphological characteristics suggested they may be Sumatran orangutans.
Meanwhile, forest department officials in Odisha are conducting further tests to establish their health, age, species and genetic origin.
Blood, sickle-cell and DNA samples were collected on September 10 on the advice of the Centre for Wildlife Health Committee under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.
DNA analysis could also determine whether the five animals are from the same mother or belong to different maternal lineages.
Indonesia Flags Possible Wildlife Trafficking
Orangutans are not native to India and are naturally found in Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly on Sumatra and Borneo.
Against that backdrop, Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry said the presence of five infant orangutans in Odisha raises strong suspicions of illegal wildlife trafficking and cross-border smuggling.
Indonesia's ministry said an initial assessment of the animals' physical and morphological characteristics suggested they may be Sumatran orangutans.
Meanwhile, forest department officials in Odisha are conducting further tests to establish their health, age, species and genetic origin.
Blood, sickle-cell and DNA samples were collected on September 10 on the advice of the Centre for Wildlife Health Committee under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.
DNA analysis could also determine whether the five animals are from the same mother or belong to different maternal lineages.
Indonesia Flags Possible Wildlife Trafficking
Orangutans are not native to India and are naturally found in Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly on Sumatra and Borneo.
Against that backdrop, Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry said the presence of five infant orangutans in Odisha raises strong suspicions of illegal wildlife trafficking and cross-border smuggling.
The ministry said it would support efforts to establish the animals' origin and investigate any possible trafficking network involved.
The Indonesian government said it has been coordinating with India's CITES Management Authority, the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, the Indian Embassy in Jakarta and Indonesian scientific authorities.
Also Read: Odisha STF Examines Past Orangutan Seizures To Trace Baleshwar Smuggling Link
Indonesia has also contacted conservation organisations experienced in orangutan rescue and rehabilitation and said they are prepared to assist if the animals are eventually returned.
For now, however, the immediate focus remains on the animals' health and establishing exactly where they came from.
If repatriated, the ministry said the orangutans would undergo health checks, quarantine, genetic identification and behavioural assessments before entering rehabilitation and, if suitable, potentially being released into their natural habitat.
The Indonesian government said it has been coordinating with India's CITES Management Authority, the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, the Indian Embassy in Jakarta and Indonesian scientific authorities.
Also Read: Odisha STF Examines Past Orangutan Seizures To Trace Baleshwar Smuggling Link
Indonesia has also contacted conservation organisations experienced in orangutan rescue and rehabilitation and said they are prepared to assist if the animals are eventually returned.
For now, however, the immediate focus remains on the animals' health and establishing exactly where they came from.
If repatriated, the ministry said the orangutans would undergo health checks, quarantine, genetic identification and behavioural assessments before entering rehabilitation and, if suitable, potentially being released into their natural habitat.
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