Balasore, Sept 10: The rescue of five young orangutans from a coastal forest in Odisha’s Balasore district has taken a mysterious turn, with investigators examining CCTV footage that reportedly shows a black Thar in the area.

The Odisha Police Special Task Force (STF) has begun a probe into the circumstances surrounding the rescue of the five orangutans, which are not native to India. Investigators are now trying to determine how the animals reached the coastal forest and whether they were part of an illegal wildlife trafficking network.

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The sighting of the black Thar on CCTV has added to the mystery. Investigators are likely to examine the vehicle’s movements and identify the people travelling in it as part of efforts to trace the possible route taken by the animals.

Authorities are also exploring the possibility that the orangutans may have been brought into Odisha through waterways. Given their origin in Southeast Asian rainforests, officials are examining multiple possible routes through which the rare animals could have been transported.

The Forest and Environment Department has reportedly kept a close watch on airports, railway stations and waterways to trace any possible movement connected to the case.

Meanwhile, the department has approached the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) seeking its expertise in investigating suspected illegal wildlife trafficking.

The STF is probing several aspects of the case, including where the five orangutans came from, how they reached Balasore and whether anyone was involved in transporting or abandoning them in the forest.

The five young orangutans were rescued from the Bichitrapur coastal forest area and are currently under care and quarantine at Nandankanan Zoological Park.

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Their unusual presence in Odisha has raised concerns over a possible organised wildlife trafficking network.

The investigation is underway, and officials are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to uncover the route and identify those behind the movement of the animals.