Bhubaneswar: The wildlife wing of the Forest Department has constituted a five-member technical committee to assess the issues pertaining to the welfare of the five infant orangutans, rescued from a forest in Odisha’s Baleshwar district.

The committee will provide technical inputs for the upkeep of the rescued orangutans, currently being cared for at the Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) in the capital city here.

The committee comprises a veterinary officer from Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens at Mysuru in Karnataka, representative of the Director of Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, project coordinator of the Centre for Wildlife Health at OUTA in the capital city here, veterinary officer nominated by the Director of National Zoological Park in New Delhi and the Director of NZP.

“The five-member technical committee has been formed to ensure that the rescued orangutans are housed and cared for in accordance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,” said an office order issued by the wildlife wing of the Forest Department.

The committee will have a tenure of six months, which may be extended from time to time, if required, it added.

The committee may consult any individuals or organizations of national and international repute, said the wildlife wing.

The veterinary officials at NZP, meanwhile, revealed that three of the rescued orangutans are male and two are female.

According to them, the health conditions of the five infant orangutans were found to be stable during a routine check-up on Sunday.