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Grey Slender Loris

  • 06 May 2022
  • 3 min read

Why in News?

Recently, scientists from the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) in Coimbatore carried out a survey of Grey slender loris populations in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul forest division.

What is Grey Slender Loris?

  • About:
    • The Grey slender loris belongs to the family Loridae.
      • It is a species of primate.
    • It has got a lean and lanky appearance, with longer and slender limbs, larger ears, pointed snout and eyes circled with black or dark brown.
      • The fur is soft and woolly. The colour varies from dark grey to earthy brown.
    • The Grey slender loris is a nocturnal animal. It is also a slow-moving animal. It comes down into the bushes to feed and crosses open stretches of ground to enter isolated groves or to cross from one tree to another.
    • Though it is insectivorous, it is fond of berries also.
  • Habitat:
    • They are found in tropical rainforests, scrub forests, semi-deciduous forests, and swamps.
    • Grey Slender Loris generally inhabits dry and drought-prone areas of Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.
      • It is found in acacia and tamarind-dominated thorn and scrub forests near cultivated fields.
    • The species occurs in southern and eastern India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka.
  • Types:
    • There are two species of Slender Loris, the only members of the genus ‘Loris’:
      • Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus)
      • Grey Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus)
  • Threat:
    • The loris has become threatened mainly because of habitat loss.
    • The disappearance of the acacia tree, a preferred tree species of the loris, hunting for the pet trade and for their meat, road kills, superstitious kills, traditional medicine and habitat fragmentation pose serious threats to this primate.
  • Protection Status:

What is Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)?

  • SACON , established in 1990 at Anaikatti, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) is a national centre for information, education and research in ornithology and natural history in India.
  • It was named after Dr. Salim Ali in appreciation of his lifelong services to India's bird life and conservation of natural resources.
  • It designs and conducts research in ornithology covering all aspects of biodiversity and natural history.

Source: DTE

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