Keri: Slim Loris, primates who are in thick and spiny bushes and bamboo clumps, face threats in Goa forests due to deforestation and illegal hunting.
Small nocturnal primates, which attract attention from two large and careful brown eyes at night, face danger due to increased logging of trees and illegal hunting.
Infrastructure projects proposed by the state and central government, highway expansion, double tracking paths and power transmission – in Mollem protected forests threaten natural habitat wild animals such as loris slim.
Locally known as ‘Van Manus’, this Arboreal primate spends most of his life in trees that enjoy insects, leaves, flowers and sometimes bird eggs.
In West Ghats forests of Goa, Loris who were leanly faced threats from hunters because of distrust that it was a calling sound like crying and considered bad luck, and therefore the animal was often killed with a shot.
Also, there are several hunter from Karnataka and Goa who have been involved in primates trading by selling at high prices.
They are stored at home as pets.
Shetye’s haze, a wildlifer from Sattari, told Tii, “Loris is slim is the least researched from the primate of where many superstitions still win.
The international union for natural conservation (IUCN) has registered they are endangered, whereas, in our country, They were listed under the schedule – I of the wildlife protection law, 1972.
“Even though Loris was slim while being imagined on various occasions in the Holy Forest of Bhagwan Mahavir Mollem and private forests, very few local residents were aware of their presence.
When Tii contacted the Range Forest Officer of Mollem, Sidhdesh rises, he said, “We have decided to create awareness relating to the presence of Loris who is slim in forested areas and their status is vulnerable by highlighting their ecological role.” In addition to Sanctuary Mahavir and Mollem National Park, Loris which is slim has also been seen in Cotigao and Mhadei Succuaries.
Loris which is slim is endemic to South India and Sri Lanka, and is currently facing threats because of losing habitat, electric shock on live cables, road accidents and illegal hunting.