Balasore, Sept 18: Ten days have passed since the rescue of five orangutan cubs from a casuarina forest in Badapahi village of Bhograi in Odisha’s Balasore district. While the investigation into the alleged smuggling of the endangered animals continues, a key question remains unanswered — why were the five orangutan cubs abandoned in the forest?
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Investigators from the Crime Branch STF and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) are yet to establish concrete facts explaining why the cubs were left in the roadside casuarina forest near the Chandaneswar-Bhusandeshwar road.
Were the Orangutan Cubs Meant to Be Hidden in a Mangrove Forest?
Investigators are reportedly exploring the possibility that the smugglers intended to hide the orangutan cubs temporarily in a wet, secluded area such as the Bhitarakanika-like mangrove habitat at Bichitrapur.
According to the investigation theory, the smugglers may have abandoned the cubs after fearing detection before fleeing towards West Bengal.
The rescue location at Badapahi is reportedly close to the Bichitrapur eco-tourism area, raising questions about whether the mangrove forest was part of the alleged plan.
Cubs Were Already Unwell
A wildlife expert said all five cubs were unwell when they were rescued from the casuarina forest. One female cub reportedly had a fever, while the other four were suffering from cold-related symptoms.
The expert attributed their condition to prolonged separation from their natural environment.
The STF has reportedly gathered information suggesting that the cubs had been kept for several days at a hotel in Digha, West Bengal before being abandoned in Odisha.
The cubs were allegedly kept inside a cement-and-brick hotel room, away from their natural surroundings, which may have contributed to their deteriorating health.
Also Read: Orangutans in Odisha: Was breeding behind their smuggling?
Why Bichitrapur Could Have Been Chosen
Bichitrapur’s mangrove ecosystem is spread across around 540 hectares of wetland along the Bay of Bengal. Surrounded by saline water and dense mangrove vegetation, the area is known for its biodiversity.
The mangrove habitat is home to red crabs, Olive Ridley turtles, reptiles and migratory birds. Forest officials also release rescued snakes, monkeys and other wild animals from Bhograi and surrounding areas in the forest.
These characteristics may have made the area appear suitable to smugglers looking for a secluded location, investigators suspect.
However, there is currently no confirmed evidence that the smugglers actually intended to keep the orangutan cubs at Bichitrapur.
Rescue Spot Close to Eco-Tourism Area
The Badapahi forest, where the cubs were rescued, is reportedly only around 500 metres from the Bichitrapur eco-tourism area.
From the local forest beat house, the route towards the nature camp leads to the boating point, beyond which the mangrove forest begins. The location is also connected to Digha through the Chandaneswar-Bhusandeshwar road, which is reportedly the main land route linking the areas.
These geographical connections are now part of the questions surrounding the suspected trafficking route.
As the investigation progresses, authorities are yet to establish the complete chain of events — where the orangutan cubs came from, who transported them, where they were being taken, and why they were ultimately abandoned in the Balasore forest.
