Orangutans

• Recent event: Five young orangutans were rescued from the Bichitrapur casuarina forest near Badapahi village in the Bhograi area of Balasore district, Odisha.
• Why important? Orangutans are not native to India. Their natural distribution is in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Smuggling angle: Authorities suspect that the animals may have been illegally transported and abandoned, although the exact circumstances are still under investigation. The Odisha government has sought involvement of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
• Current status: The rescued animals were taken to the Udaypur forest section office for observation and veterinary examination; arrangements were being made for their possible transfer to Nandankanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar.
• Conservation status: All three orangutan species are classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN.
• Species: The three living orangutan species are:
  • Bornean orangutan — Pongo pygmaeus
  • Sumatran orangutan — Pongo abelii
  • Tapanuli orangutan — Pongo tapanuliensis
• Habitat: Primarily tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.
• Ecological significance: Orangutans are great apes and play an important role in forest ecosystems, including seed dispersal.
• Major threats: Habitat loss, deforestation, palm-oil expansion, hunting and illegal wildlife trade.

UPSC Quick Revision

Orangutan → Great Ape → Southeast Asia → Indonesia & Malaysia → 3 species → IUCN: Critically Endangered

English Prelims Question

Q. With reference to orangutans, consider the following statements:

1. Orangutans are native to India.
2. All three living species of orangutans are classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
3. Orangutans are found naturally in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.
4. The Tapanuli orangutan is one of the three living orangutan species.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 2, 3 and 4 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a) 2, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 — Incorrect: Orangutans are not native to India.
• Statement 2 — Correct: The three living orangutan species are classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
• Statement 3 — Correct: Their natural range includes parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Statement 4 — Correct: Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is one of the three recognised living species.