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Five infant orangutans were rescued by the Odisha Forest Department from Bichitrapur forest in Bhograi block of Balasore district on 8 September 2026. The animals were subsequently shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, where they are being kept under quarantine and monitored by experts. Preliminary observations from Indonesia suggest that the animals may belong to the Sumatran orangutan population, although their exact identity is yet to be confirmed.
About Orangutans
Orangutans are great apes found naturally only in Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Since they are not native to India, the discovery of five infant orangutans in Odisha raises concerns about their possible involvement in illegal wildlife trade and transnational smuggling.
Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals and spend most of their lives in trees. They are highly intelligent primates and share a high degree of genetic similarity with humans. They generally move cautiously through large trees by climbing and walking, although they can also brachiate, or move by swinging from branch to branch using their arms.
There are three recognised orangutan species: the Bornean orangutan, Sumatran orangutan and Tapanuli orangutan. All three are classified as Critically Endangered, with habitat loss being one of the major threats to their survival.
Adult male and female orangutans can be distinguished by several physical characteristics. Both sexes possess throat sacs, but these become particularly large in adult males and are associated with their vocalisations.
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