Odisha STF detains three in Bengal’s Digha over recovery of 5 orangutans

The Odisha Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) announced on Friday that it has taken into custody three persons staying at a hotel in Digha, West Bengal, in connection with the recent recovery of five orangutans in Balasore district. The operation was overseen by Director General of Police Vinaytosh Mishra, who directed the STF to uncover how the animals were brought into the state and identify those involved in their movement.

The five orangutans were discovered in a forested area of Ranakotha Badapahi in coastal Balasore. Surveillance footage from more than 50 cameras along the Digha‑Chandaneswar‑Bhograi corridor captured a black SUV near the suspected drop‑off point on Monday night, prompting investigators to track the suspects to the Digha hotel. A black Thar seen in the footage was later identified as belonging to the hotel owner, not the smugglers. Officials noted that each orangutan can fetch roughly ₹25 lakh on the illegal market, and the DGP expects substantive progress in the investigation within the next seven to eight days.

Orangutans, native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, are listed as critically endangered and are frequently targeted for the exotic pet trade, tourism displays, and private collections. Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha reported that the rescued primates, initially appearing distressed after being separated from their mother, are now eating, playing and gradually adapting to their new environment. The case underscores ongoing challenges in wildlife trafficking and highlights the coordinated effort between state police and forest officials to protect vulnerable species.