Baby orangutans found in Indian forest spark trafficking inquiry
Summary
Five baby orangutans were found in a forest in Odisha, India, far from their natural homes in Indonesia and Malaysia. Authorities are investigating if the apes were trafficked and abandoned, and they are now being cared for in a zoo.Key Facts
- Orangutans are critically endangered apes native only to Indonesia and Malaysia.
- Five young orangutans were discovered in Odisha, India, near a highway and a sparse forest.
- The animals were rescued after locals alerted forest officials and are now in quarantine at Nandankanan Zoological Park.
- Officials believe the orangutans were brought by humans, possibly through illegal wildlife trafficking.
- Young orangutans usually stay with their mothers for several years and give birth slowly, making the discovery of five infants together unusual.
- International laws forbid the trade of orangutans, but illegal trafficking continues.
- Similar cases of young orangutans found in India have occurred before, suggesting cross-border smuggling.
- Indian Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and other agencies are involved in the ongoing investigation.
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