Odisha Seeks Permanent Home for Five Rescued Orangutans at Nandankanan
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has initiated efforts to secure permanent housing for five rescued orangutans currently under care at Nandankanan Zoological Park, while an expert team from Indonesia is expected to visit the state to assess the rare primates.
According to Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, Odisha’s Forest and Environment Minister, the rescued orangutans are healthy and receiving proper care at Nandankanan.
The orangutans were rescued from the Bichitrapur forest area in Balasore district during a forest patrol operation.
Following their rescue, veterinary experts conducted health examinations before transferring them to Nandankanan for specialised care and monitoring.
As orangutans are native only to Indonesia’s islands of Borneo and Sumatra and are not found in the wild in India, the rescue has drawn national and international attention.
Authorities are working to determine the origins of the animals and assess the legal and conservation implications of their presence in Odisha.
In a significant development, an expert delegation from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry is scheduled to visit Nandankanan.
The visit is being facilitated through diplomatic channels involving the Embassy of India in Jakarta.
The team is expected to evaluate the orangutans and provide insights into their possible origin and conservation requirements.
The Odisha government has expressed its desire to retain the animals permanently at Nandankanan, citing their well-being and the zoo’s capability to provide long-term care.
Any future decision, however, will depend on documentation and recommendations submitted by Indonesian authorities and subsequent review by the Government of India.
The case remains one of the most unusual wildlife rescue stories in recent years, with conservationists closely watching the outcome of the international assessment process.
