Meet Makham (Tamarind)- Another Slow Loris Saved

Over the past few weeks we have had numerous infant slow loris brought into the WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre. A few days ago this little one was found in a basket outside a 7/11 store and was picked up by a tourist and brought to us. This small male Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) is only a few weeks old and will have been poached from the wild to be a pet.

The Bengal slow loris is listed as Vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, due to loss of habitat and severe pressures from hunting, there is more than 30% reduction in population over three generations. It is predicted to decline by more than 30% in the next three generations over its entire range due to continuing hunting pressures and loss of habitat. The major threats that this species’ habitat faces include farming, timber removal, human settlement, road building, dams, power lines, fragmentations, soil loss and erosion, and deliberately set fires. They are hunted and traded for food, traditional “medicine”, sport, and as pets.

Luckily little Makham was found and he will have some other young loris friends to keep him company at the WFFT Wildlife Hospital. Sadly, the rehabilitation and release back to the wild for such a young loris is a long process. However, we are hopeful that this little one will get another chance at a wild life.