Locals rescue endangered Slow Loris from the wetlands of Sonbeel in Assam

Slow Loris rescued from Sonbeel in Karimganj. The monkey was first spotted by a man named Manoj Kumar Nath of Chotokona village in Kalibari area of Sonbeel.

As soon as the news spread, a crowd of curious people flocked to see the animal. The monkey was later taken into custody by the Dohalia Forest Division after they were informed of the incident. It is assumed that due to the destruction of forests, wildlife is forced to enter the public places. The monkey will be released to the Barail Sanctuary today.

Speaking to reporters a local said, “Yesterday night at around 7 pm a boy noticed the monkey in a tree and contacted us. The monkey was brought down from the tree and the forest department was informed about the incident. The forest department came today and rescued it.”

Slow Loris is a small, nocturnal primate that belongs to the genus Nycticebus. Found in Southeast Asia, it has a distinctive appearance with large eyes and a round head. Slow Loris is known for its unique defense mechanism of secreting a toxic substance from its elbows, which can cause severe reactions in predators or humans. Sadly, Slow Loris is classified as an endangered species due to habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal pet trade. They are often captured for use as exotic pets or for traditional medicine, leading to a decline in their population. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this fascinating species from extinction.

Slow Loris is a protected animal in India under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. This means that it is illegal to hunt, capture, kill, or sell Slow Lorises in India. The act also prohibits the possession of any part of the animal or its derivatives without proper permits. Violation of these regulations can lead to imprisonment and hefty fines. The Indian government has also listed Slow Loris as a priority species for conservation and has taken measures to protect their natural habitat. Despite these efforts, however, the illegal wildlife trade remains a significant threat to the survival of Slow Lorises in India.