Bhubaneswar: A technical committee of wildlife experts on Tuesday inspected the hand-rearing centre at Nandankanan Zoological Park to assess the health and overall condition of five juvenile orangutans currently under quarantine.

The committee was constituted by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Odisha. It comprises Dr Sashidhar and Dr Madan from Mysore Zoo and Dr Aditya Acharya, a wildlife expert from the Centre for Wildlife Health (CWH) at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).

The inspection was carried out in the presence of Nandankanan Zoological Park Director, Deputy Director Pradeep Mirase and the park's Senior Veterinary Officer.

According to Mirase, the experts entered the quarantine enclosure after following prescribed biosecurity protocols. They conducted physical examinations of all five orangutans as part of the assessment.

The committee is expected to hold further discussions and make additional observations before finalising its findings. Its report, along with recommendations, will be submitted to the concerned authorities after the assessment is completed.

The five juvenile orangutans were brought to Nandankanan after being rescued from a coastal forest area in Balasore district. They have been kept under quarantine as a precautionary measure.

The animals are under round-the-clock video surveillance and are receiving regular medical observation and specialised nursing care from veterinarians and animal keepers.