Exotic Trade's Indian Conundrum: A Web of Inaction and Greed The recent discovery of five infant orangutans in a forest in Odisha, India, has highlighted the country's role as a hub for exotic animal smuggling.
While the investigation into their origin is ongoing, it's clear that trafficked wildlife entering India through various routes is no longer limited to isolated incidents.
The sheer volume of seized animals is staggering, with over 7,200 individual creatures – including reptiles, birds, and mammals – intercepted between Thailand and India since January 2022.