Balasore, Sept 8: In a rare sighting, five orangutans have been spotted in the Ranakotha Reserve Forest in Balasore district of Odisha. The animals were reportedly found near Badapahi by a team of the Udayapur Forest Division.

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According to reports, a forest department team was conducting routine patrolling in the Ranakotha area on Tuesday morning when they spotted the five orangutans. The officials immediately informed their seniors, following which a special team was formed to trace and rescue the animals.

The orangutans were subsequently rescued and taken for medical examination. Forest officials are now investigating how the animals reached the forest, as orangutans are not native to Indian forests.

PCCF Prem Jha said that five orangutans had been spotted in Ranakotha and that their health would be thoroughly examined. He added that an investigation would be conducted to ascertain their origin and how they reached Balasore.

The forest department is also making arrangements to keep the rescued orangutans at Nandankanan Zoological Park.

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