Borigumma, Oct 13 (UDN): A pangolin weighing over five kilograms was rescued near a Durga Puja mandap in Borigumma town of Odisha’s Koraput district late on Monday night, prompting forest officials to examine how the protected animal reached the area.

 Representational Image 

According to officials, members of the Manikeswari Durga Puja Committee spotted two pangolins moving near the mandap. While one animal disappeared from the spot, committee members managed to secure the other and informed the Forest Department’s Borigumma Range.

Forest personnel soon reached the location and took custody of the rescued animal. It was subsequently kept safely at the Borigumma Range office.

Health Check Before Release

Borigumma Forest Ranger Damburdhar Gomango said the rescued pangolin would be released into a suitable and safe habitat after a medical examination.

The health assessment is expected to help officials determine the animal’s condition before it is returned to the wild.

Pangolins are specialised mammals covered in protective scales and are threatened by illegal wildlife trafficking. Their rescue and safe rehabilitation are important for wildlife conservation.

How Did the Pangolins Reach the Town?

The appearance of two pangolins near a Durga Puja venue in the heart of Borigumma town has raised questions about how the animals came to the locality.

One possibility is that they strayed from a nearby forest in search of food or shelter. However, speculation has also emerged that the animals may have been brought into the area in connection with suspected illegal wildlife trade.

No confirmed information has established how the pangolins arrived in the town, and the circumstances surrounding their presence remain uncertain.

Forest officials are expected to assess the situation as part of the rescue and rehabilitation process. The incident has also drawn attention to the need for vigilance against wildlife trafficking and the protection of animals found outside their natural habitats.