RUKSIN, 10 Jun: Bengal Slow Lorises (Nycticebus bengalensis) in the reserve forests along the Assam-Arunachal boundary have been found frequently entering into human habitations in East Siang district and neighbouring Jonai in Assam, raising concerns among wildlife conservationists.
Forest officials and locals captured at least 15 Slow Lorises over the last one decade with the animals frequently straying into human settlements along the interstate boundary. The rescued animals were later released in nearby reserve forests.
In the latest incident, Range Forest Officer of Ruksin, Opang Jamoh along with his staff rescued a fully grown female Slow Loris from a garden in Ruksin village near the forest range office on Tuesday. The animal was later released in deep jungle in nearby Poba RF.
Forest officials say the reason the animal stray into human habitation is still unknown, as no scientific study on the Slow Loris habitat and its behavior has been conducted.
RFO Jamoh said the species might be facing disturbance in their natural habitats or suffering from food scarcity in the reserve forests.
“The actual reason behind the animal straying can be ascertained only after conducting a special study on their population, habitat, food habits”, Jamoh told this correspondent.
