Indonesia is seeking the repatriation of five baby orangutans recently found in a forest in Odisha, India, amid suspicions that they may have been illegally smuggled across borders.
The orangutans, estimated to be between one and one-and-a-half years old, were discovered by Indian forest officials in Balasore district on Sept 8. They are currently being cared for at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar.
Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said initial physical observations suggest the animals may have originated from Sumatra. However, their species and exact origin have yet to be confirmed through DNA testing.
The ministry has coordinated with Indian authorities, including India’s CITES Management Authority, as well as the Indonesian embassies in India and Indonesia, to verify their origin and facilitate a possible return.
Authorities suspect the orangutans could be victims of an international wildlife trafficking network, as orangutans are not native to India and naturally occur only in Indonesia and Malaysia.
If confirmed to have originated from Indonesia, the animals could eventually undergo rehabilitation before being considered for release back into their natural habitat.
The case has also prompted Indian authorities to investigate how the five endangered animals were transported into the country
