Rescued Slender Loris, parakeets find home in Vandalur Zoo

The forest officials rescued the Slender Loris and Parakeets from the residence of Kaus Khan who is believed to have held them for use in black magic. Kaus Khan was arrested and produced before the Chengalpattu Magistrate.

A tip off received by the Wildlife Ranger’s Office in Velachery led to the raid on his property. Kaus Khan’s son is said to have been the source of the tip off as they are allegedly embroiled in a property dispute.  The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed Slender Loris as Endangered. They fall under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972, according them the highest level of legal protection. Alexandrine Parakeet are listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened and come under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972, making caging them against the law.

Sudha Raman, Deputy Director of Vandalur Zoo and Chennai Wildlife Warden (in-charge) spoke to DT Next, saying, “The person who had the Slender Loris in captivity has been remanded and the animal is currently undergoing screening and in quarantine. It will be monitored for a few days, checked for infections and then will be displayed in the play are at the Vandalur Zoo.”

She adds that this species is spotted very rarely around these regions, as the animal doesn’t frequent areas where humans reside. The natural habitat of the Loris lydekkerianus is the dry south Indian evergreen forest. It was last spotted quite by chance at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai in 2010.

Extreme noise and pollution are dangers to the existence of this species, which is usually adaptable and shows capacity to thrive even near busy cities. It is usually solitary, and sleeps during the day, being active at night to eat small insects and fruits.