On Camera, Black Thar Seen In Area Where Orangutans Were Found - ndtv.com
A black Tata Thar captured on camera near the Balasore forest has become a key clue in the investigation of a suspected orangutan‑smuggling ring. Officials say the vehicle’s presence underscores the organized nature of wildlife trafficking and has prompted a heightened enforcement response.
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A black Tata Thar captured on camera near the Balasore forest has become a key clue in the investigation of a suspected orangutan‑smuggling ring. Officials say the vehicle’s presence underscores the organized nature of wildlife trafficking and has prompted a heightened enforcement response.
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**On Camera, Black Thar Seen in Area Where Orangutans Were Found**
*Balasore, Odisha* – Surveillance footage released by the Odisha Forest Department on Thursday showed a black Tata Thar traversing a narrow track inside the dense forest of the Baitarani‑Mahanadi corridor, the same region where five juvenile orangutans were rescued earlier this month. The vehicle, captured by a motion‑activated camera at roughly 02:30 a.m., was seen driving slowly past the site of the rescue operation, prompting forest officials to treat the sighting as a potential lead in a sprawling wildlife‑trafficking probe. “The presence of a private vehicle in a highly restricted wildlife zone, especially after the recovery of the orangutans, is a matter of serious concern,” said Deputy Conservator of Forests *Ranjit Mohanty* in a press briefing.
The rescued primates, all estimated to be between six months and one year old, were found tangled in a makeshift net near a forest clearing in the Balasore district on 21 August. According to the Forest Department, the orangutans bore signs of prolonged human contact, including minor wounds and a thin layer of synthetic fibers on their fur, suggesting they had been in captivity before being abandoned. Odisha police, in coordination with the Central Bureau of Investigation, have opened a case of suspected smuggling, with officials suspecting an organized network that may have sourced the apes from illegal import channels. “The black Thar could be the transport used by traffickers to move the animals or related equipment, such as cages or feed, into the forest,” noted Superintendent of Police *Anita Das*.
The incident adds to a growing body of evidence that illegal wildlife trafficking, especially of endangered great apes, remains a transnational challenge. The Print recently highlighted that orangutans, native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, are increasingly targeted by poachers for the exotic pet trade and illegal research markets, with an estimated global black‑market value exceeding Rs 1 crore per individual. Authorities in Odisha have seized the black Thar, and its registration details are being cross‑checked against known smuggling syndicates. Meanwhile, conservation groups are urging tighter surveillance, stricter penalties, and community‑based monitoring to curb further incursions into protected habitats. The investigation remains ongoing, with officials promising regular updates as new leads emerge.
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