Bhubaneswar: Widening its probe into the discovery of five baby orangutans in a forest in Baleshwar district, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police is set to seek the assistance of counterparts in Assam, Mizoram and Maharashtra.
Sources said the STF decided to take this step as these are among the states where such rare primates were rescued in similar circumstances in recent years.
The three states had earlier reported similar cases involving the rescue of orangutans. Investigators believe information from those cases could help in the ongoing probe in Odisha.
It is cited that two baby orangutans were rescued from Cachar district in Assam in 2022. Another orangutan was rescued from Aizawl district in Mizoram in October 2023. In 2024, an orangutan was rescued from an apartment in Dombivli in Maharashtra’s Thane district.
The recovery of five baby orangutans from a forest in Balasore has raised suspicion of a possible international wildlife trafficking link.
Sources said the Odisha STF is expected to contact officials involved in the earlier cases and gather details that could assist in identifying the origin and movement routes of the animals.
The Odisha STF is at present is receiving assistance from the West Bengal Police in the orangutan investigation.
Meanwhile, investigators have examined CCTV footage obtained earlier by the STF. The footage reportedly showed a black SUV travelling near the forest area in Baleshwar. Police suspect that the vehicle may have been used to bring the orangutans to Odisha.
The vehicle was reportedly tracked up to a hotel in Digha. However, police are yet to ascertain whether the people travelling in the vehicle were involved in bringing the orangutans to Odisha or leaving them in the Baleshwar forest.
The investigation is continuing, with the STF working with agencies in other states to establish the circumstances in which the five orangutans reached Odisha.
