As investigation continues into the case of the orangutans, which were found abandoned in a forest in Balasore, TOI takes a look at how Odisha is increasingly becoming the preferred transit route for wildlife traffickers.On Sept 8, five infant orangutans were rescued from a casuarina forest near Bichitrapur in Balasore in what is being considered a suspected case of wildlife trafficking. As investigators continue to look into how the critically endangered great apes reached the remote coastal forest, wildlife experts say the case is part of a disturbing pattern that has seen an increasing number of exotic and endangered species passing through the state.The orangutans, all believed to be less than a year old, were spotted along a village road in Bichitrapur, around 40km from the Kolkata-Balasore stretch of National Highway-16. Their appearance stunned not only local residents but also enforcement agencies. Orangutans are native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia and are not found anywhere in the wild in India. Their presence, therefore, has prompted a multi-agency probe involving the crime branch’s special task force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.The incident has revived memories of another major wildlife seizure that exposed Odisha’s vulnerability to traffickers. Last March, customs officials at Biju Patnaik International Airport intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok carrying a consignment of exotic wildlife concealed inside a box-type luggage.The seizure included seven California king snakes, two albino California king snakes, 10 pig-nosed turtle hatchlings and nine Nile monitor lizards. Three of the monitor lizards were found dead. Officials said that the import violated both customs regulations and wildlife protection laws, highlighting the sophisticated methods employed by traffickers to move rare species across borders.The orangutan case, however, has taken the concern to an entirely different level. Unlike reptiles hidden inside baggage, the infant great apes required sustained care, feeding and transportation, indicating the involvement of a well-organised trafficking network with international links. Investigators believe the animals were likely being smuggled through India before the traffickers were forced to abandon them in the forest.A steady stream of unusual wildlife recoveries over the years suggests that the orangutans are not an isolated case. In 2021, two Himalayan black bears were found abandoned on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Despite investigations, authorities could not identify the traffickers. The bears were eventually rehabilitated at Nandankanan Zoological Park, where they continue to live.Wildlife experts point to Odisha’s geography as the key factor behind this trend. Besides a 574-km-long coastline, the state shares borders with West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.Numerous forested tracts, rural routes and transport corridors provide traffickers with multiple options to move wildlife without attracting attention.Susanta Nanda, former principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), said Odisha’s location makes it a preferred transit zone for smugglers. “The open coastline, road connectivity with four bordering states and contiguity of forested tracts that allow seamless passage without getting noticed are responsible for Odisha increasingly becoming transit routes for wildlife trafficking,” he said.Wildlife campaigner Biswajit Mohanty believes the ongoing investigation could uncover a much larger network. With the WCCB now looking into possible international linkages in the orangutan case, he said more hidden aspects of organised wildlife crime may come to light.Mohanty stressed the need for Odisha’s wildlife wing to create specialised anti-trafficking teams and establish sustained coordination with neighbouring states to tackle the problem effectively.Investigators admit that wildlife trafficking remains one of the most challenging forms of organised crime. A police officer associated with the orangutan investigation said traffickers often operate with a sense of impunity. “They believe they can get away because punishments for wildlife trafficking and illegal possession of or domesticating wild animals are not exemplary enough to act as a strong deterrent,” he said.The officer further said that the backbone of trafficking networks often remains intact because investigations lose momentum once rescued animals are safely housed in zoos and rehabilitation centres. “In many cases, the focus shifts to rehabilitation and the investigation stops midway, allowing the masterminds to evade the law,” he added.
