Orangutan Rescue Case / Fresh CCTV Footage Surfaces as Probe Intensified in Odisha Orangutan Rescue Case

Baleshwar, Sep 12: A major wildlife trafficking case has come to light after five rare orangutan infants were rescued from Bhogarai forest in Baleshwar district. The incident has sparked widespread concern, with fresh CCTV footage providing crucial leads for investigators.

The footage, reportedly from a hotel in Digha near the Odisha–Bengal border, shows a black Thar vehicle arriving at 10:56 pm on the night before the rescue.

Another camera near Bichitrapur captured the same vehicle passing at 11:35 pm, strengthening suspicions that the animals were smuggled in from Bengal.

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Despite the gravity of the case, no senior officials visited the rescue site yesterday. Local forest staff have been maintaining round-the-clock vigil, barricading the area and restricting entry.

The rescued orangutans have been shifted to Nandankanan Zoo, where officials report they are in stable condition. They are being fed milk, bananas, and apples, and are showing playful behavior such as swinging on ropes and interacting with toys.

Classical music therapy is also being used to reduce stress. DNA tests will determine their species and origin.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha stated that the orangutans are adapting to local conditions. A decision will later be taken on whether they should be repatriated to Indonesia, their natural habitat, or retained at Nandankanan for public display.

Meanwhile, STF and Baleshwar forest division teams are working to dismantle the smuggling racket. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep concern over the incident and ordered a thorough probe. He emphasized that Odisha must not be allowed to become a transit route for illegal wildlife trafficking.

Under wildlife protection laws, trafficked animals are to be returned to their country of origin. However, the exact species and source country of the rescued orangutans remain unclear.