Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered a detailed investigation into the rescue of five baby orangutans from Baleshwar district, seeking to establish how the rare foreign wildlife species entered Odisha and who was behind their transportation.
Despite being on an official visit to Dubai, Majhi has been closely monitoring the developments and directed the authorities to ascertain the route through which the orangutans were brought into the state, their intended destination and the purpose of their transportation.
The Chief Minister said Odisha must not become a transit corridor for the illegal trafficking of foreign wildlife. He directed the authorities to identify and take stringent legal action against any network found involved in the illegal transportation of exotic animals.
Majhi has also called for coordination between the state authorities, the Government of India, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and other wildlife and law-enforcement agencies to ensure a comprehensive probe.
Meanwhile, he directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment, security and care for the rescued orangutans in accordance with prescribed wildlife protection protocols.
