Odisha forms technical panel for care of five rescued orangutans
The Odisha government has established a five-member technical committee to oversee the care of five rescued baby orangutans currently housed at the Nandankanan Zoological Park. The panel includes wildlife experts who will provide guidance on the animals' health, diet, and psychological well-being.
Why it matters
The rescue and specialized care of non-native endangered species highlight the challenges and responsibilities of state-run wildlife facilities in managing exotic animal trafficking cases.
The Odisha government constituted a five-member technical committee to oversee the care of five baby orangutans rescued from Balasore district, officials said on Sunday (September 13, 2026).
“The baby orangutans are at present kept at the Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar,” they said.
“The panel will assess issues related to the welfare and upkeep of the rescued animals and provide technical inputs for their proper care,” an order said.
The director of Nandankanan Biological Park will be the member-convener.
“The members include a veterinary officer from Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru, a representative of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and the project coordinator of the Centre for Wildlife Health, OUAT, Bhubaneswar,” it said.
“The committee may also consult or co-opt experts and organisations of national and international repute whenever required,” it added.
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