In the last two years, the Assam State Zoo has rescued over six Slow Lorises from the outskirts of Guwahati city. Although listed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, these primates are still searching for a semblance of their natural habitat at the State Zoo. “We have not been able to provide them with proper enclosures having lights and other facilities. The Assam State Zoo does not yet have any nocturnal behavioral enclosure where we can put the Slow Loris together,” stated N. Mahanta, DFO Assam State Zoo.

The Bengal Slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis is a small-sized nocturnal primate that inhabits the forests of northeastern India. Despite being severely threatened by hunting and deforestation, lack of any information on its demography or ecology hampers the development of strategies to conserve and protect it at the State Zoo. “We have rescued them all from outskirts like Panjabari, Narangi, Beltola and other parts of Guwahati city. Most of the time it is the public who captured and handed them over to us for safekeeping. Due to their shy nature and low visibility they tend to be frightened,”

Their natural food habit is small insects, birds, eggs and other easily available food on high trees. But in the State Zoo these animals are being fed with boiled eggs, chicken meat and fruits. “We are trying to make them fit our available range of food. Also, the animals are not mating except the first pair who had given birth to a male Slow Loris which was incidentally killed by its own father,” said Doctor Gogoi of the Assam State Zoo. Slow Loris infants develop at a comparatively slow rate as compared with other nocturnal prosimians.  

Slow loris populations have been declining and its status throughout its distribution range is not known. The numbers are very small and the limited survey conducted by the Indo-US Primate Project between  1994 and 1999 indicated their presence in few isolated pockets only. The Slow loris is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972  IUCN SSC Red Data Book listed this species as ‘Data Deficient’.

“If these animals are not been taken care of then they will be lost and we will have only their pictures to show to our coming generations,”.

by gyandotcom

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