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Baby orangutans in India expose illegal wildlife trade as experts question a billionaire’s zoo

Baby orangutans in India expose illegal wildlife trade as experts question a billionaire’s zoo

Five baby orangutans were found abandoned on a plantation in Bhograi village in Balasore district of Odisha, India, exposing illegal wildlife trade. The DFO Balasore Wildlife Division stated that villagers discovered the three males and two females, aged six to eight months, in early . Experts stated that wealthy collectors, expanding air links with Southeast Asia, and loopholes in wildlife laws are driving the illicit trade of apes into India. Government records show India legally imported 41 orangutans between 2021 and 2024, leading experts to question their origins. Meanwhile, efforts to return rescued orangutans to Indonesia have stalled, and scrutiny over ownership intensified after one orangutan was transferred to a private wildlife facility run by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s family. Veterinarians at Nandankanan Zoo inspected the rescued animals, while officials prepared for repatriation procedures.

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Jacksonville Journal-Courier

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