Orangutan rescue: wildlife crime control experts to join probe, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Five young orangutans were rescued from a coastal forest in Balasore district, Odisha.
• The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Police initiated a probe into the suspected wildlife trafficking.
• The Odisha Forest and Environment Department sought expertise from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) for the investigation.
• Orangutans are not native to India, suggesting an international wildlife smuggling operation.

Detailed Insights:

• The rescued apes, comprising three males and two females, were discovered in a casuarina plantation in the Udayapur-Talsari forest area.
• This incident underscores India's vulnerability as a transit point or potential destination in the illegal global wildlife trade.
• Orangutans are indigenous to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia.
• All three species of orangutans are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• The illegal trade in orangutans is primarily fueled by demand for exotic pets and components for traditional medicine.
• India is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates cross-border trade of endangered species.
• Wildlife trafficking is a significant organized crime, often interconnected with other illicit activities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB): A statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change tasked with combating organized wildlife crime.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Indian legislation providing a legal framework for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants.
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora): An international agreement regulating trade in endangered wild animals and plants to ensure their survival.
• Wildlife Trafficking: The illegal trade and smuggling of wild animals and plants, often involving endangered or protected species.