Forest officials rescued the five rare baby orangutans from the Ranakotha Badapahi area. Following the preliminary medical examination, the primates were shifted in a specialised vehicle to the Nandankanan Zoological Park
Five baby orangutans rescued from Baleshwar: At least 5, non-native, orangutans were rescued from a forest in Baleshwar district early Tuesday. It is suspected that the rare animals may have been part of an international trafficking network said Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia.
Forest officials rescued the five rare baby orangutans from the Ranakotha Badapahi area under, Bhograi block, the Udaipur Forest Department on Tuesday morning after receiving tip-offs from local residents. A patrolling team from the Udaipur Forest Department first spotted the exotic primates around 6:00 AM. A specialised team immediately secured the five young orangutans—estimated to be between one and two years old—and transported them to the Udaipur Forest Office. They were later given a medical evaluation, where veterinarians confirmed that four of the animals were healthy and consuming fruits and ORS, while one remains under close observation.
Following the preliminary medical examination, the primates were shifted in a specialised vehicle to the Nandankanan Zoological Park under the supervision of the Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF). The animals will undergo a mandatory quarantine period and receive specialised care at the zoo.
These animals are not found in India and are mostly seen in rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. We suspect that they might have been released in Baleshwar district forest bordering with West Bengal by an international wildlife smugg;ing racket, said minister. The price of each of these orangutans is estimated between Rs 20- Rs25 in the international market.
ALSO READ: Onion Prices Rise 43%, Push Up Kitchen Costs in August
