Music therapy helps five rescued baby orangutans in Odisha zoo ease stress

What happened

Five baby orangutans, recently rescued from a coastal forest in Odisha's Balasore district, are now receiving music therapy to help them overcome psychological distress. The young apes are being cared for at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, where authorities are focused on their dietary, mental, and physical well-being.

Pradeep Devidas Mirase, Deputy Director of Nandankanan Zoological Park, explained that Indian classical and soft music is being played at the quarantine centre. He noted that while music's soothing effect on mental health is widely accepted, an immediate impact might not be visible. The orangutans have also been provided with soft toys and slings to keep them engaged.

Why the music therapy?

Orangutans are not native to India; their natural habitat is thousands of kilometres away on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. This makes their sudden appearance in Odisha highly unusual and deeply concerning to wildlife officials. Experts suggest the young animals likely experienced significant psychological distress from being separated from their mothers – a separation that usually doesn't happen until they are seven or eight years old – and enduring a journey of over 4,000 kilometres to an entirely new environment.

Zoo officials are working to establish a comprehensive protocol for the orangutans' care. Their diet includes mashed boiled apple and other prepared baby food, developed in consultation with experts from Mysuru Zoo, which also houses an orangutan. Veterinary experts from the Centre for Wildlife Health, part of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), are also closely monitoring the animals.

The investigation into trafficking

Given that orangutans are not native to India, the sighting has triggered a major investigation into a possible international wildlife smuggling network. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), with teams from its Bhopal and Kolkata centres, has launched a probe, working in coordination with the Special Task Force of the Odisha Police.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, currently abroad, has directed a thorough investigation, stating that Odisha will not be allowed to become a transit route for illegal exotic wildlife trafficking. He promised strong legal action against any racket found to be involved. Authorities suspect the traffickers might have used a sea route to smuggle the orangutans before bringing them into India via the North Eastern States, possibly through Myanmar or Bangladesh. Officials believe smugglers may have opted for rural road networks along the coast to avoid more heavily patrolled national highways, and CCTV footage is being examined to trace vehicles near where the orangutans were found.

What happens next

The five orangutans, found on Tuesday, are currently in quarantine. While one ape had bouts of fever, the zoo's veterinarians are keeping a close watch. Non-invasive health checks and deworming have been completed, but the collection of blood samples for DNA profiling and other tests has been deferred. Zoo officials indicated that it generally takes seven to eight days for the apes to acclimatise and destress, so blood samples will be taken after about ten days from their rescue. Further decisions regarding the orangutans' long-term placement will be made once they stabilise and after approval from central zoo authorities and other relevant agencies. The expert panel has also recommended moving the orangutans to an open enclosure in a few days to provide sunlight and aid their adjustment.

Key numbers

Orangutans are Asia's only great ape, existing solely in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. All three species are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, facing a severe survival crisis.