Indonesia Seriously Addresses Discovery of Five Orangutan Infants in India

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Ministry of Forestry is coordinating with relevant authorities in India and Indonesia to ensure the proper handling and seek the repatriation of five orangutan infants discovered in a forest area in Balasore District, Odisha State, India. According to a statement from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry on Thursday, September 10, the five orangutan infants were found by local forestry officials on Tuesday in the Bhogarai/Udaipur Forest Block, Jaleswar area, Balasore District, near the border with West Bengal State.

Based on preliminary information, the orangutans are estimated to be between one and one and a half years old and were found in healthy condition. They are currently being cared for at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, India.

The Ministry of Forestry said preliminary observations of their physical and morphological characteristics indicated that the five animals were suspected to have originated from Sumatra. However, their species identification and genetic origin have yet to be confirmed through DNA testing by the authorized scientific authorities.

The Ministry of Forestry has coordinated with the CITES Management Authority of India, the Embassy of India in Jakarta, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in New Delhi, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) as the Scientific Authority, and the Ministry of Agriculture to support the handling and expedite the repatriation process.

The coordination is aimed at ensuring that the entire process complies with national laws and international mechanisms, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The Ministry of Forestry has also engaged several conservation partners, including the Leuser Ecosystem Foundation (YEL), Indonesian Animal Network (JSI), Center for Orangutan Protection (COP), and Indonesian Orangutan Forum (FORINA), which have expressed their readiness to support the repatriation, handling, and rehabilitation of the animals once they are returned to Indonesia.

Upon their arrival in Indonesia, the five orangutans will undergo health examinations, quarantine, genetic identification, behavioral assessments, and rehabilitation according to their individual conditions. If they meet the requirements, the animals will be considered for rehabilitation stages leading to their eventual release into their natural habitat.

The Ministry of Forestry emphasized that the safety and welfare of the five orangutan infants remain a priority, while ensuring that the repatriation process is carried out carefully, systematically, and in accordance with applicable regulations.

The case also highlights the need for cross-border cooperation in combating illegal wildlife trade and trafficking. The Indonesian Government said it would continue to monitor developments in the case, including supporting investigations to determine the animals’ origins and identify any possible illegal wildlife trafficking networks involved.