Indonesia has not provided proof for claim over rescued orangutans
Odisha Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia said no country has yet presented documentary evidence to claim the five baby orangutans.
Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia said on Sunday that neither Indonesia nor any other nation has provided documentary evidence to prove ownership of five baby orangutans rescued in the state two months ago. According to The Hindu, the minister stated that the Indonesian government has raised a claim as a routine matter, but the state will require concrete proof that the animals originated from their territory.
The five primates were rescued from the Bichitrapur forest in Balasore district on September 8 and moved to Nandankanan Zoological Park. They are currently being kept in a temperature-controlled quarantine room to help them acclimatise to the local environment.
Minister Khuntia expressed a desire to retain the animals in Odisha, noting that the state has a conducive environment for them. He said that if the animals are provided to another country, it will only be after proper verification and once the Centre takes a decision.
An expert delegation from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry is scheduled to visit India in November 2026 to assess the primates, according to Odisha Bytes. The Indian Embassy in Jakarta is coordinating the visit, though the team's primary role will be to examine the animals.
A joint investigation by the Odisha Police Special Task Force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is currently underway. Investigators are looking into how the orangutans reached Balasore and are probing the possible involvement of an international wildlife trafficking network.