Status survey of slender loris Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Body measurements taken on sample animals revealed Abstract A survey of the slender loris Loris tardithat the population belongs to the subspecies L. t. gradus, a Vulnerable primate, was carried out in the lydekkerianus. Conservation measures for the species Dindigul Forests of Tamil Nadu, India, in 1996 in order in this region include additional surveys and evaluto assess prevalence. Lorises were found in high ation of prospects for establishing a slender loris sancdensities in the open Euphorbia scrub forests and in tuary. crop lands nearby. Although most often seen in bushes and Acacia trees, the species uses a wide Keywords Loris conservation, loris habitat, loris morvariety of vegetation and substrates. Individuals phological traits, loris prevalence, slender loris. were found mostly at an altitude of 300-500 m. Biosketches. © 1999 FFI, Oryx, 33(1), 31 -37 .

Mapping potential distribution of slender loris subspecies in peninsular India

“…This could result in a possible under-representation of the actual distribution or, equally, an over-prediction of the part of the ecological niche not utilized by the species. Modeled distributions reconstructed from known occurrences thus fall somewhere between the true ecological niche and the realized niche (Singh et al 1999, 2000, Kumar et al 2002, and point to possible areas for further exploration to fill the gap in our knowledge of species distributions.…”

“…? appear to occur within the confines of protected areas, which may be insufficient for the long-term conservation of the species, despite its ability to survive within disturbed landscapes (Singh et al 1999, 2000, Nekaris 2000, Kumara et al 2006.…”

“…Slow lorises are known to occur in northeast India and parts of southeast Asia, while slender lorises are restricted to southern India and Sri Lanka (Roonwal & Mohnot 1977, Nekaris & Bearder 2007. Slender lorises are small, often solitary and nocturnal and, consequently, poorly studied until the late 1990s, when research became more common; see, for example, studies of their distribution (Singh et al 1999, 2000, Kumar et al 2002), behavior (Nekaris 2001, Radhakrishna & Singh 2002a,b,c, 2004a and ecology (Nekaris & Rusmussen 2003, Kumara 2005. The slender lorises of India (Loris lydekkerianus lydekkerianus and L. l. malabaricus) are accorded the status of near threatened in the IUCN Red List of threatened species, and at the national level they have been assigned the highest level of protection under Schedule I, Part I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.…”

Moolah, misfortune or spinsterhood? The plight of Slender Loris Loris lydekkerianus in southern India

“…In Sri Lanka, the species is associated with similar beliefs; however their use for treating a variety of ailments from leprosy to preparing love potions is more prominent (Nekaris et al 2010). The practice of collecting tears from lorises for treating eye ailments, although known to be popular in Tamil Nadu (Singh et al 1999) Image 1. Map of the study area at Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary with sighting records and release site of captured Loris lydekkerianus lydekkerianus.…”

Social Behaviour of the Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus)

“…During a population survey in September 1996, large populations of Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus were discovered in the Dindigul district in southern India [23]. A long-term project was initiated in October 1997 with the aim of collecting more information on the behavioural ecology of the slender loris in this habitat, so that feasible conservation and management plans could be conceived for the welfare of these endangered populations.…”