Wildlife / Orangutans Rescued In Odisha's Baleshwar To Undergo Blood, DNA Tests
·48 mins ago·3 min read
Key Points
Blood, sickle-cell and DNA samples of the five rescued orangutans are being collected today; tests will assess health, age, breed, infections and whether they share the same mother.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 10: Blood, sickle-cell and DNA samples of the five orangutans rescued from Baleshwar’s Bhograi area are scheduled to be collected on Thursday to assess their health and establish more details about their origin and relationship, a source said.
The samples are being collected on the advice of the Centre for Wildlife Health Committee under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and are to be sent to laboratories for detailed examination.
The tests are expected to determine whether the rescued orangutans have any infections and provide information about their actual age and breed. DNA analysis may also help establish whether the five animals are from the same mother or belong to different maternal lineages.
Sickle-Cell Samples Collected Earlier
Sickle-cell samples of the animals were collected on Wednesday as part of the health assessment. Officials have also found that the orangutans have worms and treatment is being administered for the condition.
The five orangutans are currently being kept in quarantine at Nandankanan Zoological Park under veterinary supervision. Their condition has been reported to be stable.
Black Thar Emerges As Key Lead
Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) is investigating the suspected smuggling of the five orangutans, with a black 'Mahindra Thar' SUV emerging as a key lead.
The samples are being collected on the advice of the Centre for Wildlife Health Committee under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and are to be sent to laboratories for detailed examination.
The tests are expected to determine whether the rescued orangutans have any infections and provide information about their actual age and breed. DNA analysis may also help establish whether the five animals are from the same mother or belong to different maternal lineages.
Sickle-Cell Samples Collected Earlier
Sickle-cell samples of the animals were collected on Wednesday as part of the health assessment. Officials have also found that the orangutans have worms and treatment is being administered for the condition.
The five orangutans are currently being kept in quarantine at Nandankanan Zoological Park under veterinary supervision. Their condition has been reported to be stable.
Black Thar Emerges As Key Lead
Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) is investigating the suspected smuggling of the five orangutans, with a black 'Mahindra Thar' SUV emerging as a key lead.
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The animals were found by villagers clinging to trees in a casuarina forest in the Bichitrapur area of Bhograi block on Tuesday morning. Forest officials were alerted and rescued them before shifting them to Nandankanan in Bhubaneswar later that night.
A black Thar was reportedly seen moving through the area on Monday night, a day before the orangutans were discovered. CCTV footage from the vicinity has also captured the movement of a vehicle matching the description.
STF teams are examining CCTV footage and gathering local information to identify the vehicle's owner and determine whether it was involved in transporting the animals. Footage from railway stations, airports and ports is also being examined to trace a possible route into Odisha. Authorities are additionally exploring the possibility of waterways being used.
Also Read: Five Rescued Orangutans Shifted to Nandankanan Zoo Amid Trafficking Probe
The Forest Department has also contacted zoos across the country to check whether any orangutans have gone missing from their facilities.
The rescued group comprises three males and two females, including a very young infant. The animals are estimated to be between six months and one year old and are being kept together as they appear closely bonded.
Authorities are also seeking permission from the Central Zoo Authority to retain the animals at Nandankanan, which has an orangutan enclosure that has remained vacant since 2019.
A black Thar was reportedly seen moving through the area on Monday night, a day before the orangutans were discovered. CCTV footage from the vicinity has also captured the movement of a vehicle matching the description.
STF teams are examining CCTV footage and gathering local information to identify the vehicle's owner and determine whether it was involved in transporting the animals. Footage from railway stations, airports and ports is also being examined to trace a possible route into Odisha. Authorities are additionally exploring the possibility of waterways being used.
Also Read: Five Rescued Orangutans Shifted to Nandankanan Zoo Amid Trafficking Probe
The Forest Department has also contacted zoos across the country to check whether any orangutans have gone missing from their facilities.
The rescued group comprises three males and two females, including a very young infant. The animals are estimated to be between six months and one year old and are being kept together as they appear closely bonded.
Authorities are also seeking permission from the Central Zoo Authority to retain the animals at Nandankanan, which has an orangutan enclosure that has remained vacant since 2019.