Bhubaneswar: A five-member technical committee on Wednesday collected blood, faecal and urine samples from the five rescued orangutans housed at Nandankanan Zoological Park to assess their health condition and determine the future course of treatment and care.The infant orangutans, rescued under mysterious circumstances, are currently being kept in a closed, air-conditioned environment at the zoo’s Hand Rearing Centre.The zoo authorities said the animals will remain under round-the-clock veterinary surveillance as experts closely monitor their health.Principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force K Murugesan visited Nandankanan on Wednesday to review the animals’ condition and arrangements made for their care.“The members of the technical committee visited the HRC and collected samples for various tests, including a Complete Blood Count, to detect any infection in the body. The tests may also help ascertain the cause of intermittent fever observed in one of the orangutans. The findings would not only guide immediate treatment but also help experts decide the most suitable long-term living conditions and management plan for the rescued primates,” said Nandankanan deputy director Pradeep Mirase.The wildlife wing of the forest department had recently constituted the five-member technical committee for the welfare of the orangutans. The committee — comprising a veterinary officer from Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore; a representative of the director of the Wildlife Institute of India; the project coordinator of the Centre for Wildlife Health at OUAT; a veterinary officer nominated by the director of the National Zoological Park, New Delhi; and director of Nandankanan Zoological Park as a member-convener — has been tasked with assessing the animals’ health, nutritional requirements and other welfare needs. It has also been empowered to consult and co-opt national and international experts whenever required.Zoo officials said the rescued orangutans are gradually adapting to their temporary surroundings, and every effort is being made to ensure their health and well-being, while investigations into their trafficking and origin continue.