Slender Loris | 17 Aug 2021

Why in News

Recently, some environmentalists demanded that Tamil Nadu’s Kadavur Reserve Forest be declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in order to conserve Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus).

• The wildlife census conducted during 2016-17 showed an appreciable population of 3,500 slender loris in the Karur Reserve Forest.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • The slender lorises (Loris) are a genus of loris native to India and Sri Lanka.
  • Slender lorises spend most of their life in trees, traveling along the tops of branches with slow and precise movements.
  • They generally feed on insects, reptiles, plant shoots, and fruit.
• Habitat:
  
  • They are found in tropical rainforests, scrub forests, semi-deciduous forests, and swamps.
• 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:
  
  • It is believed that they have medicinal properties and they are captured and sold. Since there is great demand for keeping these animals as pets, they are illegally smuggled.
  • Habitat loss, electrocution of live wires and road accidents are other threats that have caused its populations to dwindle.
• Protection Status:
  
  • IUCN: Endangered,
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix II

Source: DTE