Bhubaneswar: The fate of five baby orangutans rescued in Odisha remains uncertain as state authorities await official word on their repatriation, even as diplomatic channels explore a potential visit by Indonesian wildlife experts next month.
The discussion surrounding the young primates follows the recent return of another rescued orangutan named Rocky, who was sent back to Indonesia after spending nearly two years in Indian care following a rescue in Maharashtra. Buoyed by that diplomatic success, the Indian Embassy in Jakarta announced that efforts are underway to facilitate the early return of the five animals currently lodged at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, subject to confirmation of their origin.
“The Embassy of India in Jakarta is also facilitating a visit by Indonesian wildlife experts from the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia to India in November 2026,” it said in the press release.
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The embassy stated that authorities are helping coordinate a potential November visit by wildlife specialists from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry to assess the animals. However, Odisha’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), P.K. Jha, told PTI, “No official communication about the repatriation of the five baby orangutans has been received by us so far.” He added that the state government likewise lacks official information regarding any upcoming delegation visit from Indonesia.
Zoo officials emphasised that procedural hurdles must be cleared before any transfer can take place. Pradeep Mirase, Deputy Director of Nandankanan Zoological Park, noted that while blood samples have been collected, definitive DNA reports confirming the primates’ exact origin are still pending. Without that crucial link, zoo authorities cannot officially establish that the animals hail from Indonesia, though he reassured the public that the three males and two females are thriving under round-the-clock care and hand-rearing.
The five orangutans were found under mysterious circumstances near Badapali village in Baleshwar district in September, sparking an investigation into suspected wildlife trafficking. Because these endangered apes are native exclusively to the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo, their sudden appearance in rural Odisha baffled local officials.
Previously, Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia expressed a desire to keep the animals locally, pointing out that the state’s climate suits them and that their weight has steadily increased under specialised supervision. While Indonesia has expressed willingness to coordinate a repatriation if the animals’ origins are verified, Odisha officials maintain they are waiting for formal paperwork and conclusive scientific evidence before any plans are set in motion.