India
Odisha Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) has detained three people from a hotel in West Bengal’s Digha in connection with the recovery of five critically endangered orangutans in Balasore district, officials said on Friday. The detention is part of an investigation into the suspected illegal transportation of the rare animals into Odisha.
The five orangutans were discovered in a forested area near Ranakotha Badapahi in coastal Odisha’s Balasore district. The animals belong to a critically endangered species native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia and are known to be targeted by international wildlife traffickers because of their high value in the exotic pet trade and private animal collections.
Officials said an orangutan can command a price of around ₹25 lakh, making the animals particularly vulnerable to illegal trafficking and exploitation for tourism, entertainment and private ownership.
The STF began tracking the suspected movement of the animals after examining surveillance footage from more than 50 cameras installed along the Digha-Chandaneswar-Bhograi route. Investigators noticed the suspicious movement of a black SUV close to the suspected drop zone on Monday night.
Based on the CCTV footage and subsequent investigation, STF personnel traced three people to a hotel in Digha, where they were detained for questioning. However, officials clarified that the black Thar visible in the CCTV footage belonged to the hotel owner and was not necessarily connected to the suspected transportation of the orangutans.
Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Vinaytosh Mishra had directed the STF to conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the animals’ arrival in the state. The investigation is aimed at determining the route used to transport the orangutans, identifying the individuals involved and establishing the purpose for which the animals were brought to Odisha.
“The STF has detained three people on suspicion and they are being questioned. At present, we cannot say anything conclusively. Once we obtain complete evidence-based information, it will be shared with the media,” Mishra said.
The STF’s specialised wildlife wing has now expanded its investigation to trace the entire transportation chain. Investigators are examining where the orangutans originated, how they were moved, who facilitated their transportation and whether the animals were intended for an illegal exotic animal trade or another purpose.
Mishra said the investigation was initiated following a request from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). He added that visible progress in the case was expected within seven to eight days.
“We are investigating the route through which the orangutans were brought, who brought them and what the purpose was,” the DGP said.
Meanwhile, authorities said the health condition of the rescued animals has improved. Chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha said the orangutans initially appeared depressed after being separated from their mother, but were now responding better to their surroundings.
“They are eating and playing and are expected to gradually adapt to their surroundings,” Jha said.
The recovery of the five orangutans has raised serious questions about the illegal movement of exotic and endangered wildlife through eastern India. The STF’s ongoing investigation is expected to establish the animals’ origin, their intended destination and the wider network, if any, involved in their transportation.
Authorities are also expected to determine whether the three people detained in Digha have any direct role in the movement of the animals. For now, officials have stressed that the questioning is part of the investigation and that no conclusive allegations can be made until evidence is established.
The case highlights the challenges faced by wildlife authorities in preventing the trafficking of endangered species, particularly animals that can fetch substantial sums in illegal markets.
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