Grey Slender Loris

• 06 May 2022

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:
  • IUCN: Near Threatened
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I

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