Bhubaneswar: While expressing deep concern over the rescue of five orangutans in Baleshwara district, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed the concerned authorities to conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances under which the rare animals were brought to the state.

Official sources said despite being in Dubai for a series of official engagements, the Chief Minister has been closely monitoring developments related to the incident and has taken the matter seriously.

Majhi directed officials to ascertain how the orangutans reached Baleshwara, the route through which they were transported, how they entered Odisha, who was involved in their transportation and the purpose for which they were being brought into the state.

The Chief Minister has made it clear that Odisha will not be allowed to become a transit route for the illegal transportation of exotic wildlife. He said if any organised network is found to be involved in the illegal movement of foreign wildlife, strict action will be taken against those responsible in accordance with the law.

Majhi has also instructed the authorities to coordinate with the concerned agencies of the Government of India, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), and other wildlife and law-enforcement agencies to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

The probe will seek to establish the broader circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether the rescued animals were part of an organised wildlife trafficking operation.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has directed officials to ensure the rescued orangutans receive appropriate medical treatment, protection and necessary care in accordance with established wildlife protection protocols until the investigation is completed.

About Orangutans

Orangutans are large and highly intelligent great apes distinguished by their reddish-orange hair and exceptionally long, powerful arms. They are native only to the tropical rainforests of the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia and spend much of their lives in trees.

Primarily fruit-eaters, orangutans also feed on leaves, bark, insects and bird eggs. They are considered among the closest living relatives of humans and are known for their remarkable intelligence, problem-solving abilities and adaptability.

Unlike many other great apes, adult orangutans are generally solitary. Female orangutans form strong bonds with their offspring and may care for their young for up to eight years before they become independent.

Orangutans build nests from branches and leaves, usually constructing a fresh sleeping platform high in the trees each night. However, their populations have come under severe pressure due to deforestation, illegal hunting and the expansion of palm oil plantations, which have resulted in widespread destruction of their natural habitat.