Full Breakdown
Health Check Reveals Anaemia in Three Rescued Baby Orangutans in Odisha
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Medical Examination and Findings
On September 16, 2026, veterinary teams at Nandankanan Zoological Park completed a health assessment of five baby orangutans rescued from Balasore district on September 8. The exam included X-rays and collection of blood, serum, swabs, stool and urine. In-house haematology identified severe anaemia in one juvenile and mild anaemia in two others; the remaining two showed no anaemic signs. Body temperatures ranged from 98 °F to 99 °F and were described as stable.
Background & Context – Rescue and Ongoing Smuggling Probe
Orangutans are native to Borneo and Sumatra; their presence in India points to an international wildlife-smuggling operation. The Odisha Police Special Task Force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) are investigating how the apes entered the state. Investigators have yet to trace the trafficking route.
Data & Statistics – Health Metrics of the Orphans
- Total rescued juveniles: 5
- Anaemia cases: 3 (1 severe, 2 mild)
- Recorded temperatures: 98 °F–99 °F
- Feeding regimen: milk every two hours plus apple, banana fluids and boiled potatoes
Official Statements & Responses
Nandankanan Zoological Park Director Sanath Kumar N. said the orangutans’ overall health is stable and that supportive supplementation has begun on technical committee advice. He noted DNA testing is essential to determine geographic origin, but suitable laboratories are scarce.
Aditya Acharya, head of the Centre for Wildlife Health at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, emphasized that the babies’ well-being remains the priority and that zoo authorities will decide when to send DNA samples.
A senior Forest Department official confirmed blood samples will be examined for haemoglobin and white-blood-cell counts, with stool and urine also analyzed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The BJD MLA is politicising the matter out of nothing,” — Anil Biswal, BJP spokesperson
- “The blood samples will also be tested for parameters including haemoglobin and white blood cell counts. Stool and urine samples are being examined as part of the broader health assessment,” — Pradip Mirase, zoo deputy director
What’s Next – DNA Testing and Probe Developments
Samples are slated for DNA analysis once an appropriate laboratory is identified, a step expected to aid the smuggling investigation. The orangutans will remain in temperature-controlled quarantine for a 30-day period while health monitoring continues. The STF and WCCB have reported no major breakthrough in uncovering the trafficking network.