Odisha says Indonesia has offered no proof for claim on rescued orangutans

Odisha’s forest minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia told reporters on November 8, 2026 that Indonesia has not supplied any documentary evidence to back its claim over five baby orangutans rescued from Bichitrapur forest in Balasore district.

What is the condition of the rescued orangutans?

All five infants are reported to be healthy and growing, and are being kept in a temperature‑controlled quarantine enclosure at Nandankanan Zoological Park, The Hindu reported.

Why is Indonesia’s claim under scrutiny?

The minister said any country that wishes to assert ownership under international wildlife‑trade rules must provide concrete proof that the animals originated in its territory, and so far no such proof has been presented, according to The Hindu.

What investigations are ongoing?

A joint probe by the Odisha Police Special Task Force and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is examining how the orangutans reached Balasore and whether an international trafficking network was involved, The Hindu noted.