Nocturnal, Arboreal And Vulnerable The Bengal Slow Loris
Sanctuary Asia|April 2017

The Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis has a large geographic range spanning Northeast India, Myanmar, Cambodia, southern China, Laos, and Thailand, all the way to Vietnam.

Swapna Nelaballi
Nocturnal, Arboreal And Vulnerable The Bengal Slow Loris

We had been searching for over a week without any success. It dawned upon us that this chilly June night might not be any different. Dark clouds loomed above us. Yet, like every other night we had spent in the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, an area of about 195 sq. km. located in the southern part of the landlocked north-eastern hill state of Tripura, we couldn’t but be hopeful that we would look into the mesmerising, fiery red eyes of the elusive nocturnal creature that we sought. We had been trudging for hours along overgrown forest trails. As we showered light from forest floor to the canopy, spectacularly-coloured moths, glowing bugs, slithering serpents, mysterious leopard cats and seemingly-headless sleeping birds, made occasional appearances, keeping our senses alert.

My companions resorted to whistling Bollywood melodies and thunderous throat clearing to display their frustration. For my part, tired of repeating instructions to be silent, I began paying more attention to ridding myself of mosquitoes and clambering leeches. Suddenly, as is usually the way of the jungle, out of the darkness appeared the largest crimson eye shine I had ever seen. Forgetting all the rules I leapt into the air screaming, ‘Lajwanti banor! Lajwanti banor!’ (which means slow loris in the local language, Bangla) stunning the poor creature and the rest alike. Finally, there it was, all that I had been longing for – a slow loris and pin-drop silence. We gaped at the tiny ball of fur gaping back at us from the canopy for a wonderful 60 seconds before it made its way deeper into the foliage and out of our view. We went on to have eight more encounters during our short survey. They were brief, but important, as they fuelled in me a strong desire to learn more about the loris and its way of life. Thus, began the first ecological study on the elusive Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2017 من Sanctuary Asia.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2017 من Sanctuary Asia.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من SANCTUARY ASIA مشاهدة الكل
Why Children Are Needed To Help Save The World
Sanctuary Asia

Why Children Are Needed To Help Save The World

On my very first day in India, I encountered many marvelous new customs not practiced in the United States, my home country. But the most curious by far involved trees. Here and there, alongside the roaring streets of Mumbai were rings of marigold wreathed around twisting banyan trunks like dried rays of afternoon sunlight…

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2019
Who's Who?
Sanctuary Asia

Who's Who?

Fact: all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads! Let’s unpack this...

time-read
1 min  |
September 2019
The Sea Raptor
Sanctuary Asia

The Sea Raptor

The White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster is one of the most common raptors along the Indian coastline. Nevertheless, the sight of this soaring, broad-winged, white and black bird of prey is nothing less than majestic

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2019
Bringing Up Bob Hoots.
Sanctuary Asia

Bringing Up Bob Hoots.

While we were visiting a friend’s farm in the village of Yelachetty, near Bandipur Tiger Reserve, we found Spotted Owlets nesting on the tiled roof… and one of the chicks on the kitchen floor!

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2019
Yala, Land Of The Leopard
Sanctuary Asia

Yala, Land Of The Leopard

Yala is not only Sri Lanka’s second-largest, but also the most-visited national park in the island nation.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2016
Sanctuary Asia

The Wizards Of Oz!

Australia is not only a country, but also a continent. The land down under, cut-off from the rest of the world has an abundance of unique species of native animals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2017
Scales & Tails
Sanctuary Asia

Scales & Tails

I was really excited and looking forward to the workshop on reptiles and amphibians at Nature’s Nest in Mollem, Goa, between June 24 and 26, 2017. It was my opportunity to meet renowned herpetologist Varad Giri.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2017
Big, Brilliant And Endangered
Sanctuary Asia

Big, Brilliant And Endangered

When one thinks of elephants, the first word that probably comes to mind is BIG! But elephants, while they may be the largest creatures on land, are not just big and powerful, they’re wise and sensitive as well. Recent scientific studies have established that they are among the most intelligent animals in the world.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2017
Earth Manners
Sanctuary Asia

Earth Manners

Everyday habits matter! Let’s be kind to the planet, animals and ourselves!

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2017
World Scan
Sanctuary Asia

World Scan

CHINA’S IVORY TOWNAn explosive investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency has revealed how criminal gangs originating from an obscure town in southern China have come to dominate the smuggling of ivory tusks poached from African elephants.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2017