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Odisha's Climate Boosts Rescued Orangutan Health; DNA Tests to Reveal Origin
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News18•30-09-2026, 16:30
Odisha's Climate Boosts Rescued Orangutan Health; DNA Tests to Reveal Origin
- •Odisha's climate is proving suitable for five rescued baby orangutans, with their health and weight improving in a temperature-controlled enclosure at Nandankanan Zoo.
- •Specialist doctors are providing regular care, and the orangutans are showing normal appetite, behavior, and activity levels.
- •The non-native orangutans were rescued from Balasore district on September 8, prompting an international wildlife trafficking investigation.
- •DNA tests will soon be conducted to determine the orangutans' country of origin, with samples being sent to the Zoological Society of India (ZSI).
- •Odisha Police Crime Branch and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) are investigating how the primates arrived in Odisha, with state officials planning a review of the probe's progress.
Key Questions Answered
The health of the five rescued baby orangutans quarantined at Nandankanan Zoological Park is gradually improving, with specialists regularly monitoring them and noting a remarkable increase in their body weight and normal appetite.
Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia stated that DNA tests will be conducted soon through the Zoological Society of India to ascertain the origin country of the primates before informing the Government of India.
The Crime Branch of Odisha Police and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau are actively investigating how the primates were trafficked into an Odisha forest in Balasore district.
