Black Thar Spotted In Vicinity Of Area Where Orangutans Were Found

A black Mahindra Thar seen near a forest in Odisha’s Balasore district has come under scrutiny after five orangutans, which are not indigenous to India, were rescued from the area on Tuesday. The animals were found under circumstances that have raised questions about how they reached the forest and who may have brought them there. A four-member Special Task Force (STF) has begun investigating the case.

According to local residents, a black SUV was spotted near the forest on the night before the orangutans were discovered. CCTV footage obtained from the area reportedly shows a vehicle matching the description passing through at around 11:25 pm and returning about 15 minutes later. Investigators are examining the footage as part of efforts to establish the vehicle’s identity and determine whether its movements are connected to the presence of the animals.

Officials have not yet established who was travelling in the vehicle or whether the SUV was involved in transporting the orangutans. Investigators are expected to verify the registration details, route and movements of the vehicle before reaching any conclusions. The circumstances have prompted authorities to examine possible transportation routes through which the animals could have been brought into Odisha.

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The rescued orangutans have been shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar, where they are currently being kept in quarantine. Odisha Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia noted that Forest Department doctors are monitoring their condition, while the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) is also overseeing the situation. Officials may seek assistance from wildlife experts if specialised medical care is required.

The minister also indicated that the animals could have entered Odisha through different modes of transport, including air, water or rail. He noted that the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has been urged to investigate the matter and that authorities have been asked to examine CCTV footage from airports, railway stations and ports. The WCCB is responsible for tackling wildlife-related crimes in India.

The investigation is now focused on tracing the origin and movement of the five orangutans and determining how they ended up in the Balasore forest. The CCTV footage involving the black Thar is being examined as one possible lead, but authorities have not established a direct link between the vehicle and the animals. Further verification of transport records and surveillance footage is expected to help investigators establish the circumstances behind the unusual discovery.

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