International trafficking suspected after five baby orangutans found in Odisha forest

What happened

Five baby orangutans were discovered in a forest in the Balasore district of Odisha, India, sparking an urgent investigation into a suspected international wildlife trafficking ring. The primates, native only to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, were found on September 8, 2026, by forest department officials patrolling the Jaleswar range in the Bichitrapur forest, thousands of kilometres from their natural habitat.

Odisha's Forest and Environment Minister, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, stated that the wildlife investigators are working to establish how the rare apes reached India, adding, "We suspect that an international racket might be involved in this."

Who is involved

Odisha Police's Special Task Force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) have launched a joint probe. Officials are focusing on a black SUV reportedly seen near Badapahi village on the night of September 7. The STF has reviewed footage from 55 CCTV cameras in Bhograi and nearby Digha in West Bengal, though a senior police officer noted there has been no breakthrough yet in identifying the vehicle.

Prakash Chandra Gogineni, Regional Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of the Similipal Tiger Reserve, said circumstantial evidence suggests the orangutans were brought into Balasore from West Bengal via the Digha-Chandaneswar-Bhograi route. This route, passing through rural areas, was likely chosen to avoid national highways. Mr Gogineni also suggested the animals might have been trafficked from Myanmar, through India's Northeast, exploiting the region's geography.

The investigation now extends to potential sea routes, with the STF visiting a Marine police station. Officials believe there's a possibility the animals were transported by ships or fishing trawlers. Two WCCB teams, from Bhopal and Kolkata, have joined the effort. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed authorities to crack the network and prevent Odisha from being used as a transit hub for wildlife crime.

What happens next

The five baby orangutans are currently in quarantine at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. They are being kept in a temperature-controlled room, provided with food and oral rehydration solutions, and monitored closely. Zoo authorities have observed playful behaviour, brief mood swings, and attempts by the cubs to cling to one another.

Odisha's government has formally requested permission from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to keep the orangutans at Nandankanan. Minister Singh Khuntia expressed hope that this would be "very good news" for animal lovers and could boost tourist numbers. Nandankanan has a dedicated orangutan enclosure, vacant since a 41-year-old female orangutan, brought from a Pune zoo in 2003, died in 2019. Reports also indicate that Indonesia has approached the Indian government, seeking the repatriation of the rescued orangutans.

International commercial trade in orangutans is prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). An official indicated that orangutans can fetch between ₹20-25 lakh each in the international black market, underscoring the lucrative nature of this illegal trade. Bhograi MLA Goutam Buddha Das has urged the state government to seek Interpol's assistance due to the case's international implications.

Key numbers

• 5: Number of baby orangutans found (Odisha forest department)
• ₹20-25 lakh: Estimated value of each orangutan in the international market (Police official)
• 55: Number of CCTV cameras checked (Odisha Police STF)
• September 7, 2026: Date black SUV was seen in the area (Odisha Police STF)
• September 8, 2026: Date orangutans were rescued (Odisha forest department)
• 2019: Year Nandankanan Zoological Park's previous orangutan died (Nandankanan Zoological Park authorities)