Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Forest Department on Sunday constituted a five-member technical committee to oversee the welfare and upkeep of five rescued orangutans currently housed at Nandankanan Zoological Park. Experts from leading wildlife and zoological institutions have been brought on board to provide technical inputs on their care.
The committee was constituted following the rescue of five live orangutans in the Baleshwar Forest Division on September 8, 2026, and their subsequent transfer to Nandankanan. The panel will assess issues relating to the welfare of the animals and provide technical inputs to ensure their proper care and upkeep in accordance with the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The committee includes a veterinary officer from Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysuru, Karnataka, to be nominated by the PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Karnataka. A representative nominated by the Director of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and the Project Coordinator of the Centre for Wildlife Health, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, have also been included as members.
A veterinary officer nominated by the Director of the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, will also be part of the panel. The Director of Nandankanan Zoological Park has been appointed as the Member-Convener.
The constitution of the committee comes against the backdrop of the need for specialised technical oversight of the rescued animals following their seizure in Baleshwar and subsequent transfer to Nandankanan. The panel will examine issues concerning their welfare and provide expert guidance on their care and upkeep.
The committee will have an initial tenure of six months, which may be extended from time to time, if required. It has also been authorised to consult or co-opt individuals and organisations of national and international repute whenever necessary.
The Forest Department said the committee has been constituted with the objective of ensuring that the rescued animals are housed and cared for in accordance with the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
