Baleshwar: In a recent operation, forest officials rescued five orangutans from the Rankotha protected area in Odisha’s Baleshwar district. The animals were discovered during a routine patrol on Tuesday morning.

A team from the Udaypur forest division found the orangutans near Badapahi and promptly notified senior officials. Following this, the department organized a special team that successfully rescued all five orangutans, transporting them to a local veterinary facility for medical assessments.

This incident has raised eyebrows, as orangutans are not considered native to Indian forests. In light of this, the forest department has initiated an inquiry to determine how the animals ended up in Rankotha and to trace their origins.

Prem Jha, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), confirmed the rescue and stated that the health of the orangutans would be thoroughly evaluated. He also noted that officials would look into the circumstances that led to their presence in the forest.

Additionally, the department is making plans to transfer the orangutans to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar for their ongoing care.