The mysterious appearance of five endangered baby orangutans in the coastal Casuarina forests of Baleshwar district has triggered alarm bells at both state and national levels.
With orangutans being native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia rather than India, authorities are treating the incident as a major international wildlife trafficking operation.
Director General of Police (DGP) Vinaytosh Mishra has directed the Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) to register a formal criminal case and take charge of the investigation. Speaking to the media, the DGP assured that the syndicate behind the smuggling will be unmasked within a week.
A Bizarre Discovery
On the morning of September 8, local villagers in the Bichitrapur and Udaypur-Talsari coastal belt stumbled upon five infant orangutans—three males and two females, aged between six months and a year—clinging to trees. Shocked locals immediately alerted the forest department, which safely rescued the primates and transferred them to the Nandankanan Zoological Park.
Wildlife officials confirmed that the animals are currently under quarantine and in stable condition, being fed a diet of fresh fruits, milk, and nutritional supplements. Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha stated that ensuring their survival and gradual adaptation is the top priority.
Inter-State Trails and Suspect Interrogations
Joint operations involving the STF, Forest Department, and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) point toward a well-organised cross-border smuggling network. Investigators estimate the international black market value of a single orangutan to be between 20 to 25 lakh rupees.
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CCTV Footage: Surveillance from over 50 cameras across the Digha-Chandaneswar-Bhograi route revealed suspicious movements of a black SUV near the drop zone on the night of September 7.
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Detentions: Acting on leads, an STF team backed by West Bengal Police tracked down and detained three individuals from a hotel in Digha for interrogation, keeping a close eye on a black Thar vehicle linked to the suspects.
The STF is exploring multiple entry routes, including clandestine maritime shipping lanes and rural inter-state road networks, with breakthrough findings expected within the week.
