 The Slow Loris
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Nov. 25, 2003 — Aboriginal Bom tribesmen found a rare ash-white, owl-eyed primate called a slow loris in the hills of southeastern Bangladesh, officials said Monday.
The five-kilogram (11-pound) primate, known locally as "Lajjaboti Banor," was found in a forest in the Banderban Hill District, the official BSS news agency said, quoting zoology officials.
It had not been seen for years, officials said without being able to pinpoint when the last slow loris was sighted.
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The primate's dominant features are big eyes and long black stripes on its back. It is very shy and hides its face when humans are spotted.
District administration officials have caged the primate for possible transportation to a zoo in the port city of Chittagong after rescuing it from the tribesmen.
"It is a critically endangered species which moves slowly and usually lives in solitude," said Khalilur Rahman, a zoology professor at Dhaka University.
He told BSS that the round-headed animal is known scientifically as Nycticebus coucang and has a length of up to 40 centimeters (16 inches.)
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Name: Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang)
Primary Classification: Strepsirhini (Prosimians) Location: South and Southeast Asia. Habitat: Dense rainforest. Diet: Birds, bird's eggs, insects, leaves, fruits and shoots. Size: Up to 15 inches in length. Description: Pale brown to white pelage; brown stripe down the back; dark rings around eyes; white nose; plump body; short limbs; strong hands and feet. Cool Facts: It has a network of cells in its hands and feet that removes lactic acid, allowing them to cling to branches for hours. Its saliva is toxic and used for defense against predators. Conservation Status: Not listed by the IUCN. |
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