Bhubaneswar: Following an initial field investigation, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, which is looking into the potential international trafficking related to the unexpected arrival of five infant orangutans in the Bichitrapur forest of Balasore, will be sharing vital technical insights with the Special Task Force (STF) of the crime branch, according to senior forest officials. The team conducted this preliminary visit just two days after being assigned the inquiry.
Though the Wildlife Crime Bureau does not have the authority to delve into the criminal aspects of wildlife trafficking, it will significantly contribute its expertise on international crime and illegal trade routes to assist the STF. Officials noted the bureau’s involvement is particularly important, as orangutans are not indigenous to India, strongly suggesting a link to international trafficking.
Investigators are currently exploring various technical leads, and experts from the bureau are anticipated to aid in tracing potential trafficking routes, uncover methods utilized by wildlife traffickers, and establish connections with existing exotic species smuggling networks. A senior official commented, “With clear indications of international trafficking, the bureau’s role is critical in establishing the link. Their analytical contributions could influence the next steps in the investigation.”
The day after the orangutans were discovered in the coastal forest last Tuesday, the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change formed a four-member inquiry team from the bureau to investigate potential connections to organized international wildlife crime. According to the official order, this team, led by Patil Suyog Subhashrao and including Kishor Kumar Sharma, Koushik Mondal, and Molay Das, is charged with examining the trafficking operation’s modus operandi, identifying smuggling networks and connections, and analyzing patterns similar to other cases of illegal wildlife trade.
Investigators believe that the bureau’s findings could yield crucial leads in solving one of the most peculiar wildlife trafficking cases encountered in Odisha in recent years.
