From letters to the Supreme Court to a year-round resource for animals. Read the story

Found locked in a tiny cage in Maharashtra, orangutan returns home to Indonesia

Found locked in a tiny cage in Maharashtra, orangutan returns home to Indonesia

A male orangutan rescued from illegal wildlife trade in Thane district, Maharashtra, arrived in Indonesia on Monday, likely the first wild animal rescued in India to be sent back to its country of origin. The primate, believed to be about three years old, had been found in a cramped cage in a Dombivli bathroom during a raid by the Thane Forest Division. It was flown from Gujarat to Medan and will be rehabilitated at a rescue centre in North Sumatra. The Indian Embassy stated that India waived all costs of its care.

Sources

Read the original (opens in a new tab)Summary written by Animal Writes. Read the original before relying on it.

More in Cruelty and Prosecution

  • Ambernath cat death case: Elderly man pushes cat from 12th floor in Maharashtra, FIR registered after CCTV footage goes viral

    News

    Ambernath cat death case: Elderly man pushes cat from 12th floor in Maharashtra, FIR registered after CCTV footage goes viral

    An elderly man pushed a beloved cat off the 12th‑floor ledge of the Royal Flora Phase 2 housing complex in Ambernath, Thane district, Maharashtra, causing its death. The CCTV‑captured incident occurred at about 5.45 am on Sunday 26 Jul 2026, when the cat was quietly perched on the parapet and the man, carrying a sack, struck it and forced it to fall. Residents, guided by animal‑welfare activist Xavier Santiago, filed an FIR against the accused. Senior inspector Pramod Patil of Shivaji Nagar police said the man acted without provocation and registered the case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The cat’s remains were exhumed and sent for post‑mortem as police continue their investigation.

  • Man caught pushing cat from 12th floor balcony in Maharashtra, CCTV footage sparks anger

    News

    Man caught pushing cat from 12th floor balcony in Maharashtra, CCTV footage sparks anger

    A man was caught on CCTV pushing a cat from a 12th-floor balcony ledge at Royal Flora Phase 2 in Ambernath, Thane, Maharashtra, on July 26. Social media user Yash Saghal shared the video clip and claimed the cat died from the fall, stating that animal abuse was a serious offence. Saghal questioned how someone could be so heartless and demanded that the accused person be arrested. Viewers called the incident animal cruelty and urged authorities to take strict action against the man.

  • Man and son from Mumbai held for attempting to hunt wildlife in Raigad forest, two fire arms seized

    News

    Man and son from Mumbai held for attempting to hunt wildlife in Raigad forest, two fire arms seized

    A father and son from Mumbai were arrested for attempting to hunt wild animals in the forest near Takka village in Raigad district. The Murud police stated that Crescent Lucus DeMello and his son Graffil were apprehended on Saturday night after a patrolling team stopped their SUV at around 8.30 pm. Police said they recovered two rifles, 104 live cartridges, and animal meat-cutting tools from the vehicle. An FIR was registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which prohibits hunting wild animals and carries penalties of up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Police quoted their findings: "When the vehicle was checked, we found another rifle, 104 live cartridges and animal meat-cutting tools." A Raigad forest official stated that wild boar hunting in the area is strictly illegal, as wild boars are protected under the law. The forest ecosystem near Takka village falls within and adjacent to the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, where trapping and poaching carry severe criminal penalties. The total value of the seized items, including the SUV, is Rs 5.3 lakh. The investigation is ongoing.

From the Library

  • CBI DRI Joint Action Busts Wildlife Trafficking Racket 53 Protected Animals/ Birds Rescued, 06 Accused Arrested

    Official Release

    CBI DRI Joint Action Busts Wildlife Trafficking Racket 53 Protected Animals/ Birds Rescued, 06 Accused Arrested

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and DRI, Mumbai, conducted a joint operation that disrupted a wildlife trafficking network, resulting in the rescue of 53 protected animals and birds. The operation, supported by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, involved multiple locations in Maharashtra and West Bengal. Rescued species included 15 Slow Loris, 2 Binturong, 28 Star Tortoises, 6 Egyptian Vultures, and 2 Shikra birds. Six suspects were arrested, three in Mumbai and three in Kolkata, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Criminal Conspiracy under Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The investigation is ongoing.

  • DRI Nagpur Foils Illegal Wildlife Trade: Seizes Leopard Skin with Head Trophy in Bhopal; Three Persons Apprehended

    Official Release

    DRI Nagpur Foils Illegal Wildlife Trade: Seizes Leopard Skin with Head Trophy in Bhopal; Three Persons Apprehended

    The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a leopard skin along with its head trophy in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Three individuals were arrested in connection with this illegal wildlife trade incident after officers intercepted them at a hotel. Leopards are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which strictly prohibits the trade, sale, purchase, or possession of their skins or body parts. The seized items and the three apprehended individuals were handed over to the Forest Division, Bhopal, for further necessary action.

  • DRI seizes 86 live Tokay Geckos in Assam in a crackdown on wildlife trafficking; two arrested

    Official Release

    DRI seizes 86 live Tokay Geckos in Assam in a crackdown on wildlife trafficking; two arrested

    The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence confiscated 86 live Tokay geckos in Assam during a wildlife trafficking crackdown. Acting on specific intelligence regarding an illegal trade deal, officers intercepted two individuals at Bandar Chalia Gaon Ground in Mariani. The endangered animals were seized under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the two apprehended persons were subsequently handed over to the Mariani Range Forest office for further action.