Five juvenile orangutans were discovered in Ranakata forest, Balasore, Odisha, far from their native ranges in Indonesia and Malaysia. Rescued by local authorities, they are quarantined at Nandankanan Zoological Park while a multi-agency probe examines whether they were trafficked and abandoned. The animals' young age and the absence of adults have intensified conservation and legal concerns, as orangutans are critically endangered and protected under CITES. Authorities continue to investigate and monitor the apes' health.
Five Baby Orangutans Discovered in Odisha Forest Spark International Trafficking Probe
Orangutans are critically endangered species and not native to India [Nandankanan, Bhubaneswar]
Five baby orangutans were found in a forest in Balasore district, Odisha — thousands of kilometres from their native rainforests in Southeast Asia — prompting an investigation into whether they were trafficked and abandoned.
Rescue and Current Care
Local residents alerted forest officials after spotting the young apes sitting together and eating bananas. They were rescued early on Tuesday in Ranakata, a proposed reserve forest in Bhogarai block near the West Bengal border, given first aid and transferred to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. The animals are in quarantine and under close veterinary monitoring.
The apes were found by locals in a forest in India's Odisha state [ANI]
Investigation Underway
Balasore District Forest Officer Pratik Prakash Indalkar told the BBC that the orangutans could not have reached Odisha naturally and were likely transported by road. Authorities — including the Odisha government, state police, forest officials, a special task force and India's Wildlife Crime Control Bureau — are coordinating a probe into possible international smuggling and abandonment near a highway.
Conservation Concerns
Officials described the apes as infants, though some local reports suggest they may be one to two years old. Wildlife expert Biswajit Mohanty warned that their young age is especially troubling because juvenile orangutans normally remain with their mothers for several years to learn survival skills. All three living species — Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli — are classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.
The orangutan is found in rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia [NurPhoto via Getty Images]
Legal Context and Past Incidents
International commercial trade in orangutans is prohibited under CITES, and they are protected under Indian wildlife laws. Despite these protections, illegal trafficking for exotic pet trade and private collectors persists. A similar incident occurred in 2022 when two baby orangutans were abandoned near the Assam–Mizoram checkpoint; officials suspected they had been brought in via Myanmar.
"The area is covered mainly by casuarina trees and is not a dense forest. It is also close to a state highway," said District Forest Officer Pratik Prakash Indalkar, underscoring concerns the animals may have been transported and dumped.
The inquiry continues as authorities search for clues about the origin of the juveniles and any criminal networks involved. The rescued orangutans remain in veterinary care while agencies coordinate next steps, including health assessments, potential repatriation options and legal action if trafficking is confirmed.
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