5 baby Orangutans found wandering in Odisha's forests:

Looted From Their Habitat

5 baby Orangutans found wandering in Odisha's forests in Balasore. Wildlife enthusiasts and the forest officials were surprised and delighted by the sight of the young ones.

On Tuesday at around 6 in the morning, the baby Apes were spotted in the Badapai village in Bhograi. Thousands of people turned up at the spot where the young Orangutans were spotted and a rescue team was sent in. After days of speculating on how the apes came there, the young Orangutans, measuring 1-1.5 feet were handed over to the forest department.

The Balasore Divisional Forest Officer, Pratik Prakash Indalkar stated that all the five young Orangutans that were rescued from Balasore have been brought to the forest office. He also stated that out of the five rescued ones, four were found to be normal while the rest were put under the care of the veterinary doctors.

"We have rescued five baby orangutans and brought them to the forest office. Four of the five babies are healthy and eating food and drinking ORS. Veterinary doctors are examining and treating them and they are under the care and observation of the forest officials," Indalkar told the Indian Express.

Wildlife Officials Suspect That The Orangutans Might Have Been Smuggled

The officials stated that the Orangutans were native to the countries of the Southeast Asian region like Borneo and Sumatra, making it surprising how they could have wandered in the forests of Odisha.

“Chances of their natural migration to the Balasore forest is less as there is no corridor link. It must be a human-induced act. We have launched an investigation through field officials to ascertain how the primates arrived in the Odisha jungle,” Indalkar said. He further stated that the Orangutans were not found to be suitable for the habitat in Odisha as there is neither forest nor any kind of wildlife found here, nor is there any land connectivity with Borneo and Sumatra.

In addition to filing a wildlife crime case against the offenders, the authorities are also looking into whether a police complaint should be filed. In addition, WCCB is also investigating whether the smuggling rings are connected to international networks.

Meanwhile, the forest officials are also searching the nearby forests to check whether there are any other animals, especially Orangutans. The surprising rescue of the five young Orangutans has triggered debates across the country on wildlife conservation.

Business Fortune reports with regret that all three species of the Orangutan, including the newly discovered Tapanuli species, are critically endangered.

FAQs

Where were the five baby orangutans found?

The five young orangutans were found near Badapai village in Bhograi. They were sighted on a Tuesday at around 6 am in Balasore's forests.

Are orangutans found in India?

No, Orangutans are not found in India. They are found in the countries of the Southeast Asian region like Borneo and Sumatra.

Why do you think the orangutans were smuggled?

The reason why orangutans were smuggled could be that the illegal traders took the young apes from their natural habitats to sell them as they are not found in India.

What is the future of the rescued orangutans?

They will be kept in isolation at Nandankunan Zoological Park after putting them under the care of veterinary doctors.

Are orangutans an endangered species?

Yes, Orangutans are an endangered species and the Tapanuli, Bornean and Sumatran species are critically endangered.