Table of Contents
- A proposal has been sent to the State government to declare the Kadavur Reserve Forest in Karur district as a sanctuary for Slender Loris.
Slender loris
- 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 are found in tropical rainforests, scrub forests, semi-deciduous forests, and swamps. The primates have lifespans of 15 years and are nocturnal. Slender lorises generally feed on insects, reptiles, plant shoots, and fruit.
- There are two species of Slender Loris, the only members of the genus ‘Loris’:
The Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus)
2. The Grey Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus)
- Out of 6,327 hectares of forest in Karur district, about 6,000 hectares are in Kadavur taluk. The entire forest in the taluk has been classified as reserve forest and considered a hotspot in the State for Slender Loris. According to a census taken in 2016-17 by the Forest Department, the Kadavur Reserve Forest has a population of 3,500 Slender Loris. The current population is estimated to be around 5,000.
- KARUR District collector Dr T Prabhushankar has assured to expedite steps to declare Kadavur reserve forest, known for its slender loris population, a sanctuary by taking up the proposal with the state government within a year.
Slender lorises are facing habitat loss which may affect their population in the years to come. - Schedule I:
It covers endangered species that need rigorous protection. The species are granted protection from poaching, killing, trading etc.
A person is liable to the harshest penalties for violation of the law under this Schedule.
Species under this Schedule are prohibited to be hunted throughout India, except under threat to human life or in case of a disease that is beyond recover. - This mammal is protected under Schedule – I of the Wildlife Protection Act. 1972
- According to forest officials, a conservation reserve for the mammal will be the first of its kind in India. The grey slender loris are native to the southern peninsula and northern part of Sri Lanka. Slender lorises could be found till Palani hills but the thick vegetation in the 6,000 hectares Kadavur reserve forest offers it an ideal habitant and climate.
- A detailed proposal was submitted to the government by forest officials after carrying out a sample survey three years back, but it is yet to be considered.
- Making farmers take up organic farming in adjoining areas was also part of the proposal as slender lorises feeds on small insects and pest found on agriculture land.
Usage of pesticides and insecticides has been affecting such insects. - The medium to high temperature in the hill, which has an elevation of about 1,200 meters from sea level, bordering Karur, Tiruchi and Dindigul districts, is said to be the main reason for the growth of Slender Loris.
- Ravichandran, Ranger, Kadavur, said that no other place in the State has such a large congregation of Slender Loris. The proposal would enable the Forest Department to take steps to protect the habitat of the animal.
- Prabhu Shankar, Collector, who visited the forest a few days ago, said that a proposal had been sent to the State Government to declare Kadavur Reserve Forest as a sanctuary for Slender Loris. Many conservation activities could be taken if it was made as a sanctuary and it would also attract tourists and environmentalists. Steps would be taken to expedite the proposal.
Threat
- According to biologists, poaching activity has led to the steady decline of the species in Tamil Nadu. Native people have always believed that all parts of the slender loris have some medicinal or magical powers. This has contributed greatly to the decline of the slender loris. In addition, slender lorises are illegally smuggled to supply a growing exotic pet trade. Other threats include habitat loss, electrocution on live wires, and road accidents. Along the western region of Tamil Nadu, there is a vigorous clampdown on illegal poaching of slender lorises.
- Destruction of tropical rain forest habitat is also contributing to declines in population
Latest Burning Issues | Free PDF
WhatsApp