Bhubaneswar, Nov 12: Two months have passed since five orangutan babies were rescued from Bhograi in Odisha’s Balasore district, but the investigation into the suspected international wildlife trafficking racket appears to have made little progress.

Despite the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch reportedly gathering crucial leads about the alleged smugglers, the case remains unresolved.

The five orangutan babies were allegedly abandoned by smugglers in the Badapahi forest under Kanthibhounri Panchayat of Bhograi block on the night of September 7. The next morning, Udayapur Forest Ranger Sanjay Kumar Mohanty rescued them safely and ensured their proper care.

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The incident triggered widespread concern and curiosity among local residents, with many expecting the authorities to expose the trafficking network. However, the alleged key figures behind the operation, identified as Jayanta Maity and his son Soumyadeep from Howrah in West Bengal, have reportedly not been traced by the investigating agency.

Investigators had examined more than 300 CCTV footage clips from Badapahi to Kolkata. On September 12, the Odisha DGP visited Balasore and assured the media that the case would be solved soon.

Investigators reportedly found that a black Mahindra Thar bearing registration number WB 56T 0333 had stopped at The Grand Heritage hotel in New Digha, around two kilometres from the Odisha border at Sahabajipur. The hotel, where the final deal was reportedly made, remains locked.

Although reports suggested that the STF had gathered several significant clues, there has been no public breakthrough in identifying and arresting the alleged masterminds. The reasons behind the delay in the investigation remain unclear.

Meanwhile, the five rescued orangutan babies have become a major attraction for visitors at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had earlier stressed the seriousness of the case and assured that those involved in the alleged international trafficking racket would be brought to justice.

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The Forest Department has also kept the specific spot in Badapahi forest, where the orangutans were rescued, out of bounds for visitors. Plans are reportedly being considered to develop a dedicated pathway from Bichitrapur Nature Camp and install statues of the five orangutan babies to attract tourists. The site continues to remain under forest department surveillance.

The absence of a breakthrough in a case involving suspected international wildlife trafficking has raised questions over the pace of the investigation and the efforts to bring those responsible to justice