Odisha Keen To Retain Five Rescued Orangutans At Nandankanan
The Odisha government wants to retain five orangutans rescued in Balasore at Nandankanan Zoological Park, unless conclusive evidence is produced to establish a claim for their repatriation.
Bhubaneswar: The five orangutans rescued in Balasore may continue to stay in Odisha, with the state government expressing its willingness to retain them at Nandankanan Zoological Park, provided no conclusive evidence is produced to establish a claim for their repatriation.
Forest, environment and climate change minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia said on Sunday that all five animals were healthy and that no country had officially staked a claim to take them back so far.
The minister said a team of experts from Indonesia had sought information about the orangutans and submitted a report to the Government of India.
However, the team had not furnished concrete evidence establishing the animals’ origin.
The Centre would ask the Indonesian side to produce documentary proof before taking a decision on their possible return, he said.
“No country has officially claimed the orangutans so far.
Only the Indonesian team has raised the issue as part of its routine work, and its report has already been submitted to the Government of India.
The Centre will ask them to provide proof of the animals’ origin.
If they fail to produce any evidence, we will make arrangements for the orangutans to remain in Odisha,” Khuntia said.
He added that if credible evidence was submitted, the matter would be examined in accordance with international laws governing the movement and repatriation of wildlife.
The state government, meanwhile, is keen to make Nandankanan the permanent home of the five animals.
Khuntia said the government wanted them to become an additional attraction for visitors to the zoological park.
“We would like them to stay in Odisha as our assets.
I believe they will remain here with us, and tourists will get to see them in the future.
We will ensure that they are not disturbed,” he said.
The minister also pointed out that orangutans were housed in several zoos across India and expressed confidence that the animals would adapt to the local climatic conditions.
Their continued presence at Nandankanan would enhance the zoo's attraction as the state government pursues its ambition of developing the facility into a world-class zoological destination.
