Bhubaneswar, Oct 23: Indonesia has initiated efforts to repatriate five orangutan infants rescued from Bichitrapur forest in Odisha’s Balasore district. A five-member team of Indonesian wildlife experts is expected to visit India in November to facilitate the process.

The orangutans were rescued on September 8 and are currently housed at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. Zoo authorities said the animals are healthy and receiving proper veterinary care.

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) is investigating how the orangutans reached Odisha and who was involved in their alleged trafficking. CCTV footage reportedly helped investigators trace their movement from Kolkata through Digha to Bichitrapur. However, the suspected international smuggling network has not yet been identified.

The Forest Department has said DNA testing is necessary to establish the animals’ species and origin, but the tests are yet to be conducted.

In a similar case, a Sumatran orangutan rescued in India in November 2024 was recently returned to Indonesia through coordinated efforts by wildlife authorities in both countries and CITES officials.

The five orangutans at Nandankanan are expected to be repatriated once the required legal formalities and regulatory procedures are completed.