Five Orangutans found in Odisha

Five orangutans have been discovered in Odisha’s Balasore district forest, sparking confusion among residents and forest officials. The animals, indigenous to Indonesia and Malaysia, were spotted in Bichitrapur forest area near Badapahi village in Bhograi block. Villagers first noticed the orangutans and alerted others, causing the unusual sight to become a topic of discussion. As more people arrived, they photographed and filmed the orangutans, which subsequently went viral locally.

Upon learning of the situation, forest officials arrived at the scene and a rescue team led by Udaypur forest ranger Sanjay Mohanty took the animals to the Udaypur forest office. The purpose of the rescue effort was to conduct a thorough health examination of the orangutans before determining the next steps. The presence of these orangutans has raised questions among wildlife officials, as they are not native to India.

Their natural habitat is primarily located in Southeast Asia, making their appearance in a coastal Odisha forest highly unusual.

To investigate the origin of the orangutans and how they reached Balasore, Divisional forest officer (wildlife) for Balasore, Pratik Prakash Indalkar announced that a detailed investigation would be conducted. The animals will undergo a comprehensive health assessment. Additionally, the forest department is preparing to transfer the rescued orangutans to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, following veterinary examinations and necessary formalities. The condition of all five orangutans will be assessed before their relocation.