Five baby orangutans spotted in Odisha, cops suspect smuggling, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Five baby orangutans were discovered in a forest near Badapai village in Odisha's Balasore district.
• Forest officials suspect the orangutans, which are not native to India, were brought into the state by an international wildlife smuggling racket.
• The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has been tasked with investigating the incident.
• All three species of orangutans are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• The rescued orangutans are currently under veterinary care and are likely to be transferred to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar.

Detailed Insights:

• The orangutans were found in the Bhograi area of coastal Odisha, far from their natural habitats in Borneo and Sumatra.
• Their presence in India strongly indicates illegal wildlife trafficking, a multi-million-dollar criminal industry.
• The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is a statutory body established under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, to combat organized wildlife crime.
• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, prohibits the possession, trade, import, or export of CITES-listed species like orangutans.
• Nandankanan Zoological Park is a prominent zoo in Odisha known for its conservation efforts and breeding programs for endangered species.
• The incident highlights India's vulnerability as a transit or destination point in the global illegal wildlife trade network.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Orangutans: Asia's only great apes, native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, and all three species are Critically Endangered.
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB): A statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, established to combat organized wildlife crime in India.
• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: India's principal legislation for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants, prohibiting hunting and regulating trade.
• IUCN Red List: The world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.