Following the discovery of five young orangutans on a plantation in Odisha, questions have arisen regarding wildlife trade in India. It is important to note that orangutans do not naturally inhabit India; they are primarily found in the forests of the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, indicating the existence of a complex international network for transporting exotic animals.
According to DTE data, land, sea, and air routes are used to smuggle wild animals from Southeast Asia into India. The DTE report maps these pathways, showing numerous routes leading from Borneo and Sumatra through Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh into India.
This smuggling route originates in the regions of Southeast Asia where many rare and exotic animals live, including Borneo and Sumatra. Animals may first be transported to other countries and then attempted to be delivered to India. Malaysia and Thailand are key points in this network, from which animals can enter India via Myanmar or by sea and air routes.
Myanmar plays an important role in the land portion of the network delivering animals to India. From Myanmar, animals can be transported to the border of northeastern India, after which attempts are made to move them to other parts of the country. There are several border zones between India and Myanmar, among which Moreh is a significant crossing point. After entering India, animals can be transported by road to other states.
The map also demonstrates a route through Bangladesh. Animals arriving from Southeast Asia can be directed towards Bangladesh and then introduced into India. In the case of the orangutans found in Odisha, the question remains open as to exactly how they entered the country. It is only known that the appearance of orangutans in India is not a common occurrence.
Wildlife smuggling is not conducted only overland; air and sea routes also play a role. Air and sea routes from Borneo and Sumatra through Thailand towards India are shown. International connections of major Indian cities, such as Mumbai and Chennai, may be relevant in such cases. After arriving from abroad, animals can be transferred from these cities to other regions of the country.
The objects of illegal trade are not only large animals like orangutans. Exotic turtles, snakes, lizards, monkeys, and other rare species are also involved in this illegal business, often imported for sale as pets. The main difficulty of this network is that traders do not rely on a single route; they can change countries, borders, and transport routes, which complicates efforts to combat smuggling.
The map shows that there are many ways to smuggle wild animals into India. A route starting in Borneo and Sumatra can pass through Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, or Bangladesh, using land, air, or sea means. The discovery of five orangutans in Odisha highlighted this major issue of how foreign animals enter India and who is behind this network. Thus, the finding of these five orangutans has turned from a local incident into a case related to international wildlife trade.