Five Rescued Orangutans in Odisha Receive Music Therapy Amid Smuggling Probe

Five juvenile orangutans were rescued from a forest in the Balasore district of Odisha, India, and are currently being cared for at the Nandankanan Zoological Park. The animals, which include three males and two females aged between six months and one year, are not native to India. Because there is no natural land corridor connecting their native habitats in Borneo and Sumatra to India, authorities believe the animals were brought to the state through human activity. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed a thorough probe into the circumstances of their arrival, stating that the state will not be allowed to become a transit route for illegal trafficking of exotic wildlife.

To manage the stress and anxiety caused by their separation from their mothers and a journey of over 4,000 kilometers, zoo authorities have implemented music therapy using soothing classical and instrumental tunes during feeding sessions. The animals have also been provided with soft toys, dolls, and a cloth hammock to keep them engaged. While the orangutans have become more active and are responding to food, medical staff have treated one baby for fever, two for common cold symptoms, and another for a worm infection. Experts from the Centre for Wildlife Health of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology are monitoring the animals and have advised against collecting blood samples for ten days to avoid further stressing the juveniles. These samples will eventually be used for DNA analysis to determine the animals' species, breed, and familial relationships.

Reporting on the event varied slightly by political lean. Center and center-right sources focused heavily on the specific rehabilitation efforts and the medical care provided by the zoo. In contrast, the center-left source emphasized the animals' status as critically endangered and highlighted the existence of a market for rare pets in India.