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The sudden discovery of 5 huge and rare great apes (Apes – mainly Orangutan species) near the dense forest area of Odisha, the rich bio-diversity state of Eastern India, has created a sensation among wildlife experts, scientists and environment lovers.
Medical and genetic analysis of preliminary samples has confirmed that the DNA of these great apes matches that of humans by 95% to 97%. Among the naturally occurring apes in India, only ‘Hoolock Gibbon’ found in Assam and North-East are known as Lesser Apes. In such a situation, the discovery of great apes like the huge orangutan living in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo on Indian soil was considered no less than a miracle. But the story that has come out behind this mystery has also alerted the international law enforcement agencies.
These creatures of Orangutan and Chimpanzee class are called ‘Great Apes’:
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Human Equality: Their genetic code is closest to that of humans. Their facial expressions, finger grip, way of expressing emotions and intellectual ability to solve problems are at the level of human children.
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tools used: They are capable of using branches and leaves as tools in the natural environment.
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Physical appearance: Red-brown long hair, long strong hands and heavy body are their identity.
The biggest and most intriguing question was that how did these great apes, naturally found in the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, cross the thousands of kilometers wide Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal and reach the forests of Odisha?
This mystery has been exposed in a detailed investigation by the Forest Department and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). This is not a natural migration, but International Wildlife Trafficking (Illegal Exotic Wildlife Trade) There was an organized and dangerous game of:
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1.Secret container shipment by sea: Investigation revealed that these 5 great apes were caught by poaching from Sumatra region of Indonesia. After this, they were secretly brought into the Indian waters through the Bay of Bengal through international maritime cargo ships and large illegal fishing trawlers.
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2. Myanmar-North-East and Coastal Route: Smugglers usually offload animals of exotic species through the Myanmar-Mizoram border or through secret jetties in the Odisha-West Bengal coastal belt.
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3. Order of private zoos and farmhouses of nobles: In some big cities of the country, the trend of building illegal private zoos and rearing ‘exotic pets’ as a status symbol has increased rapidly. Price of these rare great apes in the international black market crores of rupees Is measured in.
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4. Released in the forests due to fear of being caught: Due to strict checking by police and customs and fear of intelligence, the smugglers, even before delivery, removed them from the container near a desolate forest area of Odisha and left them abandoned and fled from the spot.
On receiving information from the local villagers, the Forest Department team immediately swung into action along with veterinary doctors and conducted a safe rescue operation and safely captured all the 5 great apes with minimal and safe use of tranquilizers.
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Quarantine and Medical Care: Due to their foreign origin, there is a possibility of zoonotic diseases. At present, he has been kept under 24-hour observation of doctors in Nandankanan or special isolation centre.
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Steps under CBD and CITES: India is a signatory to the international treaty ‘CITES’ (Convention on Trade in Endangered Species). Under this, the Union Environment Ministry and the Foreign Ministry are now in contact with the Indonesian Government so that after legal formalities they can be safely repatriated to their original natural habitat.
This incident has once again exposed the growing audacity of the international wildlife mafia operating on India’s maritime and land borders.