Bhubaneswar, Sept 9: The Odisha Forest and Environment Department has sought permission from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to keep five orangutan cubs rescued from the Bichitrapur forest in Balasore district at Nandankanan Zoological Park.
The five orangutans are currently being kept under quarantine at Nandankanan.
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According to Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, an Indonesia-like climate has been created at the zoo to ensure suitable conditions for the rescued animals.
The minister is also scheduled to visit Nandankanan to assess the health and condition of the orangutans.
The five cubs-three males and two females-are all believed to be less than one year old. Their rescue from the Bichitrapur forest has raised serious questions, as orangutans are native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) is investigating the case in coordination with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). Authorities are trying to determine where the orangutans came from, how they reached Odisha and where they were allegedly being transported.
Officials are also probing the possible involvement of an international wildlife trafficking network. The discovery of gloves at the spot where the animals were found has added to the suspicion of illegal wildlife transportation.
Also Read: Thousands of kilometres away: How did five Orangutan cubs reach Balasore?
Investigators are now trying to trace the entire trafficking route and identify those involved. If evidence of an international wildlife trafficking network emerges, the WCCB may expand the investigation further.
