Bhubaneswar, Sept 9: The five orangutan cubs rescued from the Bichitrapur forest in Balasore district have been shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park. The animals were brought from the Udayapur Forest Office and reached Nandankanan at around 10:20 pm on Tuesday.
Following their arrival, the orangutans underwent a health examination. Officials said they have a slightly elevated body temperature, following which the room temperature in their enclosure has been regulated according to their health condition.
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The five orangutans are estimated to be between one and one-and-a-half years old. At present, they are being fed only milk through feeding bottles. Officials said fruits will gradually be introduced into their diet. They are expected to start eating fruits and leaves more regularly once they reach around five to six years of age.
The Forest and Environment Department has sought permission from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to keep the orangutans at Nandankanan. The animals have currently been placed under quarantine as a precautionary measure.
Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia said an environment resembling the climate of Indonesia has been created for the rescued animals at Nandankanan. The minister is also expected to visit the zoological park soon to review their condition and arrangements made for their care.
Also Read: Odisha seeks permission to keep five rescued Orangutan cubs at Nandankanan
Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the five orangutans. The investigation is being conducted in coordination with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
The investigation is focusing on several questions, including how the orangutans reached the Bhogarai forest area, where they originated from, which route was used to bring them to Odisha, and their intended destination. The STF is also probing the possible involvement of an international wildlife trafficking network in the case.
The five orangutan cubs—three males and two females—were rescued from the Bichitrapur forest on Tuesday morning. All of them are believed to be between one and one-and-a-half years old.
Orangutans are primarily found in the tropical rainforests of countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Their presence in a forest in Balasore has raised serious questions about how the rare animals were brought to Odisha and what their intended destination was.
Also Read: Thousands of kilometres away: How did five Orangutan cubs reach Balasore?
