Odisha Orangutans Rescue Case: Hotel Owner Under Scanner
Bhubaneswar: The rescue of five infant orangutans from Bichitrapur casuarina forest in Baleshwar district has taken a dramatic turn, with investigators identifying West Bengal hotelier Jayanta Maiti as a prime suspect.
His son, Soumyadeep Maiti, is also under scrutiny.
CCTV footage revealed a black SUV linked to Maiti moving through the forest late on September 7, hours before the animals were discovered abandoned.
The Odisha Forest Department, Special Task Force (STF), and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) have launched a joint probe, raiding Maiti’s Grand Heritage Hotel in Digha and seizing surveillance footage.
The rescued orangutans, native to Borneo and Sumatra, have been shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar for veterinary care.
Authorities are investigating how the animals were smuggled into Odisha and whether an interstate or international trafficking network is involved.
This case underscores the growing threat of wildlife crime in India and raises urgent questions about cross‑border trafficking routes and enforcement gaps.
