Bhubaneswar: The state government has forwarded a petition seeking the repatriation of five rescued infant orangutans to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden for necessary action following its receipt from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
The representation, submitted by Odisha Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abhiyan (OPSA) Trust managing trustee Soumya Ranjan Biswal, opposes plans to keep the rescued primates in a zoo and calls for their return to accredited sanctuaries in their native range countries in accordance with international wildlife protection norms.
In a letter dated October 9, 2026, the Forest, Environment and Climate Change department directed the PCCF (Wildlife) to examine the representation, which had been forwarded by the CM’s private secretary, to take necessary action.
The five infant orangutans were reportedly intercepted in the Ranakotha Reserve Forest near Badapahi in Baleshwar district, close to the Odisha-West Bengal border.
Their presence in the forest has raised concerns about the international wildlife trafficking networks that may have brought the non-native animals into the state.
In its appeal to the government, OPSA expressed concern over the reported proposal to approach the Central Zoo Authority and other relevant authorities for permission to retain the animals in a zoo.
The organisation argued that keeping the young primates in captivity for public display could prioritise tourism and commercial interests over their welfare and long-term conservation.
The trust urged the state government to initiate repatriation procedures under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), subject to applicable legal requirements and expert assessment, so that the animals can eventually be moved to suitable, accredited sanctuaries in their native range.
It also called for a transparent and independent investigation into how the orangutans reached the Baleshwar forest, the trafficking networks involved and the circumstances in which the infants were separated from their mothers.
Seeking greater accountability, the organisation demanded public disclosure of the animals’ transport routes, legal documentation and current custody arrangements.
It also called for strict prosecution of those found responsible for the alleged smuggling under applicable laws.
OPSA further urged the government to formulate a clear policy prioritising animal welfare, conservation and rehabilitation over public exhibition of confiscated wildlife.