Orangutans in Odisha: The Laws Governing Animal Trade and Repatriation

Gist The rescue of five critically endangered baby orangutans from a forest in Odisha has triggered a debate on the cross-border smuggling of exotic wildlife. This incident signals a shift in wildlife crime patterns, showing that India is no longer merely a transit route but a growing destination for the exotic pet trade. For civil services aspirants, this highlights the practical application of international treaties and the recent amendments to India's wildlife laws concerning the confiscation, welfare, and repatriation of foreign species. Background The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES is an international treaty that came into force in 1975 India joined in 1976 to ensure that cross-border trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten their survival. CITES operates through a strict licensing system that categorises species into three Appendices based on their threat level, with Appendix-I reserved for species threatened with extinction. Domestically, the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 , governs animal protection. The Act was amended in 2022 specifically to harmonise domestic law with CITES obligations by adding a…