India, Sept. 8 -- Five orangutans, a critically endangered species native to the Indonesian and Malaysian rainforests, were found on Tuesday in a forested area in Ranakotha Badapahi in coastal Odisha's Balasore, prompting the state forest and wildlife department to investigate whether an international wildlife trafficking network was involved in smuggling them.

Orangutans are smuggled for high-end exotic pet trade, tourism entertainment, and private animal collections. An orangutan could fetch around Rs.25 lakh.

Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha said the orangutans, estimated to be between one and two years old, were found inside Ranakatha Protected Reserved Forest during routine patrolling around 6am.

Jh...