No concrete proof yet from Indonesia for claim over rescued orangutans: Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar Neither Indonesia nor any other country has so far provided documentary evidence to establish ownership of five baby orangutans rescued from a forest in Odisha two months ago, state Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia said on Sunday (November 8, 2026). Five young orangutans rescued from Odisha’s Balasore district storyline 1 Speaking to reporters, Mr. Khuntia said all five orangutans were doing well, and expressed the State's desire to retain them at Nandankanan Zoological Park.

Music therapy to soothe ‘distressed’ orangutans found far from their habitat storyline 1 "All five baby orangutans are doing well and growing. No one should disturb them. We want them to stay in Odisha, and visitors will get an opportunity to see them at Nandankanan Zoo," he said.

The Minister said some countries might stake a claim to the animals under international wildlife trade regulations, but they would have to furnish concrete evidence to establish that the rescued animals originated from their territory. "The Indonesian government has raised its claim as a routine matter.