5 Orangutans Found In Odisha May Be Victims Of Wildlife Smuggling: Indonesia

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 animals were rescued by the Odisha forest department from Bichitrapur forest under Bhograi block on September 8. Their discovery surprised authorities, who suspected wildlife smugglers may have been behind their appearance in the state, as orangutans are not indigenous to India.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 Ministry of Forestry is seriously following up on the discovery of five baby orangutans in a forest area in Balasore District, Odisha State, India.