Trafficking suspected after five baby orangutans found in India

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 11, 2026

Five baby orangutans were found in Odisha, India, over 1,000 miles from their native habitat, prompting an investigation into potential illegal wildlife trafficking. The discovery raises alarms about international trafficking rings and underscores the urgent need to protect critically endangered orangutan populations from exploitation.

Five baby orangutans were discovered in a forested area of eastern India, raising concerns over possible wildlife trafficking. The animals, native solely to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia, were found in the Balasore district of Odisha state, more than 1,000 miles from their natural habitat.

Odisha’s environment minister, Ram Singh Khuntia, confirmed that authorities are investigating the origin of the rare apes and whether they were illegally transported into India. “We suspect that an international racket might be involved in this,” Khuntia said. The discovery came during routine patrols by forest department officials in the Jaleswar range of Balasore district.

Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), international commercial trade in orangutans is banned to protect the species from exploitation. The five infants are now quarantined at a zoological park in Odisha as officials continue their inquiry.

Orangutans, recognizable by their distinctive shaggy red fur, have faced significant population declines over the last century. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that approximately 104,000 orangutans remain in Borneo and Sumatra, down from over 230,000 about 100 years ago.

In addition to the more widely known Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, a third species—the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis)—was identified more recently and is classified as critically endangered. Fewer than 800 individuals of this species are believed to survive in the wild, primarily residing in the Batang Toru forest area in North Sumatra. This population faces ongoing threats from mining activities, palm oil plantations, and a controversial hydropower project.

The Tapanuli population experienced a further setback in November when severe flooding and landslides in North Sumatra were estimated to have killed between 33 and 54 individuals. Conservationists warn that even a 1% annual decline could eventually lead to the species’ extinction.

The recent finding of baby orangutans so far outside their natural range has heightened concerns about illegal wildlife trafficking networks. Authorities in Odisha are continuing their investigations to determine how the animals arrived in the region and identify those responsible.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.