Wildlife officials in Odisha, India, have launched a trafficking inquiry after two baby orangutans were discovered in a forest in the Balasore district, according to BBC reports.
The apes, which are not native to India, were found in an area where they would not naturally occur. Their presence has prompted suspicion that they were illegally brought into the country, likely for the pet trade, and may have been abandoned or escaped from captivity.
Officials told Down To Earth that the young orangutans probably spent time around humans before they were found. This assessment is based on their behavior and condition, suggesting they were not born in the wild and had been cared for or handled by people at some point.
The discovery has raised questions about how the animals ended up in the forest. The Times of India noted that the presence of these apes in Balasore is highly unusual, given that their natural habitat is in Southeast Asia, thousands of miles away. The Telegraph India reported that the rescue is being treated as part of a suspected smuggling operation.
Additional reports from NDTV noted that a black thar, another animal not typically found in that part of India, was also seen on camera in the same area where the orangutans were located, adding to concerns about exotic animal trafficking in the region.
Authorities are now working to determine where the orangutans came from and how they were transported into India. The investigation will likely focus on identifying the individuals or networks responsible for bringing the animals into the country illegally.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of wildlife smuggling in the region, and officials will be looking to trace the origins of the apes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
