Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is awaiting approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to retain five rescued orangutan cubs at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, as authorities continue efforts to ensure the animals’ health and safety.
The five orangutan cubs were rescued from Bichitrapur forest in Balasore district on September 8 and subsequently shifted to Nandankanan Zoo. The animals are currently being kept in quarantine under controlled conditions while they gradually adjust to their new surroundings.
State Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said the state government wrote to the CZA two days ago seeking formal permission to keep the rescued animals at Nandankanan. The authority has not yet responded to the request.
Odisha Awaits Central Zoo Authority Approval
According to the minister, the state government has initiated the required process with the CZA before taking a decision on the long-term housing of the orangutans.
The approval is particularly important because orangutans are not native to India and are generally associated with the tropical rainforests of Indonesia, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.
The Odisha government, however, believes the animals can adapt to the state’s climatic conditions if suitable facilities are provided.
“Climatic conditions replicating those in Indonesia have been created in the zoo for the stay of the rescued animals,” the minister said.
Officials also pointed out that orangutans have previously been housed successfully in Odisha, suggesting that the state’s climate need not necessarily prevent their long-term care at Nandankanan.
Indonesia Reportedly Seeks Repatriation
Amid Odisha’s request to retain the animals, reports have emerged that Indonesia has approached the Indian government seeking the repatriation of the rescued orangutans.
The development could add another dimension to the ongoing issue, as authorities investigate how the animals ended up in Balasore.
A final decision regarding the long-term custody of the cubs will depend on the findings of the investigation as well as the necessary regulatory approvals.
Five Cubs Under Quarantine at Nandankanan
After being rescued, the five orangutans were transported to Nandankanan, where they were placed in a temperature-controlled quarantine facility.
Zoo authorities said the cubs are receiving food and oral rehydration solutions as part of their care.
The rescued animals comprise three males and two females, with their ages estimated to be between six months and one year. They are reportedly around one to one-and-a-half feet tall.
Veterinary and animal-care teams are closely monitoring their condition as they gradually acclimatise to the controlled environment.
Special Measures Taken to Reduce Stress
Officials said the young orangutans initially displayed different emotional responses following their rescue and relocation.
The animals reportedly showed playful behaviour as well as brief mood changes and, at times, anxiously clung to one another.
To help them overcome the stress associated with the rescue and relocation, Nandankanan authorities have introduced several measures based on advice from animal health experts.
The cubs have been provided with soft toys and music, while facilities have been arranged to make their surroundings more comfortable and suitable for their recovery.
Nandankanan Zoological Park Deputy Director Pradeep Mirase said the animals were gradually becoming less stressed and adapting to their new environment.
Nandankanan Already Has Orangutan Enclosure
Nandankanan is not unfamiliar with orangutans. The zoo already has a dedicated enclosure for the species, although it has remained vacant since the death of a 41-year-old female orangutan in 2019.
The female had been brought to Nandankanan from a zoo in Pune in 2003.
The existing facility could therefore provide a suitable base for the rescued cubs if the CZA grants permission for their retention.
Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said retaining the animals at Nandankanan would be welcomed by animal lovers across Odisha and could also increase the zoo’s tourism appeal.
He said it would be “very good news” for animal lovers in Odisha if the CZA permits the zoo to keep the five orangutans, adding that tourist footfall could also increase.
Probe Into How Orangutans Reached Balasore
Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the presence of the five orangutan cubs in Odisha.
A joint investigation by the Odisha Police Special Task Force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is underway to determine how the animals reached Bichitrapur forest in Balasore.
Investigators are also examining whether the cubs could have been brought into the region through an international wildlife trafficking network.
The circumstances surrounding their arrival have raised serious questions because orangutans are native to Southeast Asia and are not naturally found in Odisha.
The investigation is expected to establish the animals’ origin, how they were transported and whether any individuals or organised network were involved in bringing them to India.
Long-Term Future of the Cubs Remains Uncertain
For now, the immediate priority remains the health and rehabilitation of the five young animals.
While Nandankanan has created controlled conditions to help them settle, their long-term status remains uncertain pending the CZA’s decision and the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Whether the orangutans remain in Odisha or are eventually repatriated will depend on regulatory, conservation and legal considerations.
Until then, the five cubs will remain under close veterinary supervision at Nandankanan, where officials are working to ensure they recover from the stress of their unusual journey and continue adapting to their temporary home.
