Orangutans Rescued in Odisha Spark Trafficking Probe
· India · Indian Express
Forest officials rescued five infant orangutans from a forest in Odisha's Balasore district after they were spotted near the Badapai village forest in the Bhograi area. The Special Task Force of the Odisha police and a team from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau have launched an investigation into the suspected involvement of an organised trafficking racket. The animals have been brought to Nandankanan Zoo, where they are currently under quarantine and medical supervision. State forest and environment minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia noted that India is not a natural habitat for orangutans, raising suspicions about their origins. Officials plan to register a case under the Wildlife Protection Act and are verifying CCTV footage while questioning local residents.
Why it matters
The incident exposes potential wildlife trafficking routes into India and raises urgent questions about the illegal cross-border smuggling of exotic endangered species.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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