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Five baby orangutans abandoned in an Indian forest 1,700 miles from home expose a booming illegal ape trade

Five baby orangutans at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, whose mothers were most likely killed, leaving infants who would normally cling to them for up to nine years.
Five baby orangutans at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, whose mothers were most likely killed, leaving infants who would normally cling to them for up to nine years.

Their mothers were likely killed, leaving infants who would normally cling to them for up to nine years. Villagers in Odisha were baffled by the three males and two females, aged six to eight months, with reddish hair. Keepers at an Indian zoo are reportedly playing them classical music to calm them. Conservationists are also questioning rare animals acquired by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's family zoo.

Experts say seizures are a fraction of the exotic animals bought by wealthy Indian collectors.

India's wildlife laws were built to protect native tigers and rhinos, not imported apes.

In 2022, two Sumatran orangutans were found stuffed in boxes at an Assam-Mizoram checkpoint.

MoreThe IndependentBaby orangutans found in India expose illegal wildlife trade as experts question billionaire’s zooAPBaby orangutans in India expose illegal wildlife trade as experts question a billionaire’s zooAPIndia emerges as major destination for trafficked orangutans and other endangered apesThe Business StandardBaby orangutans found in India highlight illegal wildlife trade, raise questions over billionaire's zooSouth China Morning PostDiscovery of baby orangutans in India exposes booming illegal pet trade
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