Key facts
- Five baby orangutans were found abandoned in Odisha, India.
- The orangutans are aged six to eight months.
- The Indian exotic-pet market was estimated at $42.6 million in 2024.
- Over 40,000 exotic animals were registered by February 2021.
- 56 seizures involving about 4,000 exotic animals were documented in 2022.
Five baby orangutans, aged six to eight months, were discovered in a forest in India's eastern Odisha state, highlighting a significant illegal exotic wildlife trade. Traffickers are smuggling endangered species, including apes, into India from Southeast Asia, driven by demand from wealthy individuals seeking exotic pets, often promoted by social media influencers. Experts warn this trade is massive and growing, with an estimated Indian exotic-pet market valued at $42.6 million in 2024. While seizures of animals like gibbons and orangutans occur, they represent only a fraction of the total trade.