Kadavur sanctuary in Tamil Nadu is new home to endangered slender lorises

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government became the first state to notify the Kadavur Sanctuary as India’s first sanctuary for Slender Lorises.

Slender Lorises are listed as endangered as per the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In a statement, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department said forest areas measuring 11,806 hectares in Karur and Dindigul Districts have been identified as important habitats for Slender Lorises in Tamil Nadu.

She said the government, after realising the need for immediate conservation of the endangered animal, made an announcement in the Assembly that it was committed to conservation.

The sanctuary with 11,806 hectares of land (in 7 Blocks) is located in Karur and Dindigul districts.

Slender Lorises are native to India and Sri Lanka and their genus comprises two species, the red slender loris found in Sri Lanka and the grey slender loris which is found both in India and in Sri Lanka.

Sahu said the government has already notified India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, Kazhuveli Birds Sanctuary in Villupuram, Agasthiarmalai Elephants Reserve, and Nanjarayan Tank Birds Sanctuary, Tiruppur

Usually people confuse between Lorises. There is a myth that Slender Loris is venomous and it’s salaiva can kill humans

There are two types of Lorises in India – Slow Loris & Slender Loris. They both belong to the primate family and are nocturnal. Slow loris is found in South Asia.

In India, Slow loris is spread in the some forests of North East Indian states.There are two species of Slender Loris,- Red Slender Loris (IUCN: endangered) found in Srilanka, Grey Slender Loris (IUCN: Near Threatened) found largely in South India

There are two subspecies in the grey slender loris(GSL)-Malabar GSL & Mysore GSL. The former is seen in dense forests of WGs while the later is found in open and scrub forests and also in adjoining agri fields. Therefore exposed to several threats. Malabar GSL is smaller in size.

In Tamil Nadu, GSL is found in Dindigul, Karur, Sivaganga, Trichy, Pudukkottai regions. Though they are spread out outside the forests, their source population is well within the forests and hence needs high protection which is possible now with the declaration of SL sanctuary at Kadavur.

Slender Lorises also act as a biological predator of pests of agricultural crops and benefit farmers.  In addition, they play an important ecological role in the terrestrial ecosystem. The survival of the animal depends on habitat improvement, conservation efforts, and mitigation of threats.

Known to live most of their life in trees, they have a lifespan of approximately 15 years and generally feed on insects, reptiles, plant shoots, and fruit.