Saving Slender Lorises in Asia

[Guest guest]

Long time ago, there was a Slender Loris in Alipore Zoo in Kolkata. Very

sweet and cute animals but extremely shy.

 

http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2009112411177/Local-News/stop-illegal-trade-o\

f-slow-loris-officials.html

Written by Melvin Jong Tuesday, 24 November 2009 10:20

Bandar Seri Begawan - A Workshop on identification and care of the slow

loris, a primate locally known as Kukang, was held yesterday at the Tasek

Merimbun Heritage Park Complex, to raise awareness on the importance of

protecting this endangered species. The slow loris is a slow moving

nocturnal primate found in many parts of Southeast Asia.

 

They have a considerably long life span of approximately 15 to 25 years.

 

However, hunting, loss of habitat, as well as the illegal animal trade have

placed it on the endangered species list.

 

Chairperson of the workshop, Hjh Siti Norhayatty Hj Morni said that the slow

loris was among the 34 protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act

in regional law.

 

" The workshop aims to contribute to a reduction in illegal slow loris trade

and inappropriate release of confiscated slow lorises, " she said.

 

She said the workshop, an ongoing activity conducted by the Brunei Museums

Department was part of their awareness programme to provide information on

the wild fauna and flora in Brunei. It also provides an opportunity for the

participants and stakeholders from various government agencies such as

District Offices, Forestry Department, Agriculture Department, Royal Customs

and Excise and the Royal Brunei Police Force, among others, to learn more

about the animal and wildlife conservation in general.

 

" Learning from an expert in the field will help us better educate the

public, (towards) better management and enforcement of slow loris in the

future, " said Hjh Siti Norhayatty.

of Museums Department Bantong Antaran said: " We do believe that

continuous and concerted efforts such as roadshows and workshops like today

will help protect this primate from becoming extinct. "

 

Bantong told the participants that the locals do not capture Slow Loris for

their meat but to keep them as pets.

 

Over the past 10 years, the Museum Department has recorded six cases of

capture- and- release of the animal, all of which were " handover " cases by

the public, a reflection of the success of awareness programme activities

conducted by the Natural History Section, Brunei Museums Department.

 

The workshop, fully funded by the Primate Action Fund, Primate Conservation

Inc and The Primate Society of Great Britain, is one of a series of

workshops organised by Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom that had

already been previously held in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and

Japan.

 

Led by Tricia Parish from the Nocturnal Primate Research Group under the

university, the one-day workshop will cover various subjects such as the

taxonomy, identification, behaviour, look-alike species, common smuggling

techniques, captive care and release protocol of the primate.

 

It is also hoped to enhance the ability of the relevant authorities to

identify and care for the primate in captivity while reducing the illegal

trade on slow loris in the region. -- *Courtesy of The Brunei Times*