The rescue of five baby orangutans from a forest in Odisha’s Balasore district has prompted Indonesia to raise concerns about a possible international wildlife trafficking network, saying the animals’ presence in India is highly unusual as orangutans are native only to Indonesia and Malaysia.
“The Ministry of Forestry is seriously following up on the discovery of five baby orangutans in a forest area in Balasore District, Odisha State, India. “Based on initial observations of their physical and morphological characteristics, the five animals are suspected to be orangutans native to Sumatra.
Following the rescue, the Indonesian government said it was closely monitoring the case and coordinating with Indian authorities to establish the animals’ origins and facilitate their return. The Indonesian government has taken several concrete steps in coordination with relevant authorities in India and domestically to ensure proper handling, verify their origins, and seek their repatriation to Indonesia,” it said in a statement. Indonesia said preliminary observations suggest the animals may belong to a Sumatran orangutan population , though a final confirmation is still awaited. However, the Indonesian government emphasized that this identification is still preliminary and that confirmation of their species and genetic origin will be carried out through DNA testing by authorized scientific authorities,” it said. Zoo authorities said the animals have displayed a range of emotions, from playful behaviour and occasional mood swings to anxiously clinging to one another. “As advised by the experts, steps are also being taken to play classical music to help reduce their stress,” Nandankanan Zoological Park Deputy Director Pradeep Mirase said.
