Bhubaneswar, Sept 14: Ganesh Puja may be drawing crowds across Odisha, but at Nandankanan Zoological Park, a different attraction has captured everyone’s attention, the five rescued orangutan cubs from Indonesia.
On Sunday, a couple from Sambalpur was seen pleading with a security guard at Nandankanan for a glimpse of the orangutans. The couple had travelled by train with their eight-year-old daughter after she insisted on seeing the rare animals.
“I have come all this way, so I must see them,” the little girl reportedly kept telling her parents. She even wanted to return the next day, fearing that the orangutan cubs might be taken out of their enclosure.
The family is not alone. Thousands of visitors arriving at Nandankanan every day are curious to catch even a brief glimpse of the rescued orangutans, click photographs and record videos to preserve the memory.
The rare animals have been staying at Nandankanan since Tuesday night. They have been kept at the Hand-Rearing Centre (HRC) near the quarantine veterinary hospital, around 300 metres from the zoo’s entrance.
The area has been declared a complete restricted zone. Tourists are not being allowed inside, and even most Nandankanan employees have no access to the facility.
Only senior officials, designated caretakers and health experts are permitted to approach the animals.
Strict biosecurity measures are being followed before anyone enters the facility. As part of the guidelines, personnel wash their feet with disinfectant solution before entering and wear gloves and masks to minimise the risk of infection.
Security has also been tightened around the quarantine facility, with several security personnel deployed in three shifts.
‘Tiger Line’ road becomes a crowd magnet
Interestingly, the road on the left side of Nandankanan, known as the Tiger Line Road, has suddenly become a point of attraction.
Although entry into the quarantine facility is prohibited, visitors are gathering along the road hoping to learn more about the new guests. Many who earlier preferred not to walk along the stretch are now making the trip, circling the area and asking security guards and guides about the orangutans.
Some visitors have even been seen trying to photograph and record videos of the quarantine facility from outside before returning disappointed.
Yet, many are leaving with hope that the young orangutans will eventually be put on display once they are declared fit and appropriate arrangements are made.
Nandankanan had an Orangutan before
The curiosity surrounding the new arrivals also brings back memories of Bini, the orangutan that was once a major attraction at Nandankanan.
From 2003 to 2019, Bini remained one of the zoo’s popular attractions and entertained visitors for years.
After Bini’s death, Nandankanan remained without an orangutan for nearly six years.
Now, the arrival of the five rescued cubs has once again sparked excitement among visitors, with many eagerly waiting to see whether the young orangutans will eventually become a new attraction at the zoo.
