The Tamil Nadu government has declared to set up the first Indian sanctuary for the endangered Slender Loris in Karur and Dindigul districts. The announcement was made by the Chief Minister’s Office on October 12.
A total of 11,806 hectares in the forest areas of the Karur and Dindigul districts will be merged to form the Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary, the first of its kind in India. These mammals are also protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The tweet by the Chief Minister’s office stated, “The sanctuary will play an important role in the conservation of Slender Loris and yet another milestone in TN’s conservation efforts.”
ABOUT SLENDER LORIS
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the Slender Loris is an endangered species (IUCN). The species’ survival is dependent on habitat improvement, conservation efforts, and threat mitigation.
The Slender Loris is a small nocturnal mammal that lives mostly on trees. They serve as biological predators of pests that harm agricultural crops while also assisting farmers. The species plays a variety of ecological roles and is vital to the terrestrial ecosystem.
This move by the TN government will protect the mammal’s habitat and also help in reducing its poaching.
According to a press release issued by the TN government, “Realizing the need for immediate conservation of this species, the Government of Tamil Nadu had made an announcement on the floor of the Assembly that ‘India’s first ever Wildlife Sanctuary for Slender Loris shall be set up in Karur and Dindigul in Tamil Nadu’.”
