Bhubaneswar, Sept. 16 (UDN): The Odisha Special Task Force (STF) has expanded its investigation into the suspected trafficking of five rescued orangutans, but a week after the rare primates were found abandoned in Balasore district, the alleged masterminds behind the operation remain untraced.
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The probe has intensified around a black SUV believed to have been used to transport the orangutans and a hotel in Digha, West Bengal, where investigators suspect the trafficking network may have had links.
Authorities are looking into the role of Digha hotel owner Jayanta Maiti and his son Sandeep Maiti, who are reportedly absconding. Meanwhile, the hotel manager and five staff members have been questioned as investigators attempt to piece together the movement of the animals before they reached Odisha.
Probe extends to three states
The STF is now seeking assistance from police in Assam, Mizoram and Maharashtra to trace the suspected interstate wildlife trafficking network.
Officials hope coordination with these states will help establish the route used to transport the orangutans and identify those involved in the illegal operation.
Health monitoring continues at Nandankanan
While the investigation gathers pace, the rescued orangutans continue to receive specialised care at Nandankanan Zoological Park near Bhubaneswar.
A technical committee visited the zoo to assess the health of the young primates and review their care arrangements. The assessment was conducted in the presence of the Nandankanan Director, Deputy Director and the Senior Veterinary Officer, with experts expected to submit an observation and recommendation report after completing their evaluation.
Rescue that sparked the investigation
The five orangutans were discovered on the morning of September 8 in the Rankotha Reserved Jhau Forest in Bhograi, Balasore district. Their unexpected presence in the coastal forest triggered an investigation into suspected international wildlife trafficking, as orangutans are native to Indonesia and Malaysia and are not found in the wild in India.
The animals were later rescued and shifted to Nandankanan, where they remain under veterinary supervision as the STF continues efforts to uncover the network responsible for bringing them to Odisha.