Five Orangutans found in Odisha

At least five orangutans, which are not indigenous to India, were rescued in a forest in Odisha’s Balasore district, prompting the authorities to suspect that wildlife smugglers might be behind the animals' sudden appearance there, a Minister said on Tuesday (September 8, 2026).

The State Government urged the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) to inquire into how the critically endangered great apes reached Bichitrapur forest area under Bhograi block.

Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said the five orangutans were rescued by the forest patrolling team on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) morning.