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AP Joy Wonder Discovery SummaryBrief at 10:37 a.m. EDT
The annual route change avoided a protest camp as activists pressed housing demands after an elderly woman’s eviction.
The discovery of five baby orangutans abandoned on a plantation in eastern India highlights the country's growing role as a destination for trafficked apes.
Experts blame wealthy collectors, expanding air links with Southeast Asia, and loopholes in wildlife laws for the surge; India legally imported 41 orangutans between 2021 and 2024.
Scrutiny over ape ownership intensified after one orangutan was transferred to a private wildlife facility run by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's family, focusing attention on enforcement gaps.
Efforts to return rescued orangutans to Indonesia have stalled, leaving conservationists unable to secure the animals' return to their native habitats despite ongoing repatriation attempts.
The incident emphasizes the need for stricter enforcement and international cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trade, as conservationists remain concerned about ongoing exploitation of protected species.