Five baby orangutans found abandoned in Odisha forest, highlighting wildlife trafficking concerns
On September 8, Odisha Forest Department officials discovered five baby orangutans abandoned in Bichitrapur forest under Bhograi block in Balasore district. The infants—three males and two females aged 1 to 1.5 years—were malnourished and distressed. Forest officials provided immediate care and relocated them away from gathering crowds.
The rescued orangutans were transferred to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, where they remain in quarantine under expert supervision. Staff are monitoring them for dehydration, illness, and stress from maternal separation.
The discovery has drawn national and international attention because orangutans are not native to India or Odisha. The species inhabits only Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia, raising concerns about illegal wildlife trafficking networks. Authorities are investigating the origins and circumstances of their abandonment.
