Manipur’s Lourembam Nanda Singh is an animal lover, but even he did not imagine that he would one day save an animal served to him for dinner! Counted among India’s most endangered species, a Bengal Slow Loris evaded its untimely death when Singh refused to eat the animal served to him as a dish and made sure it was returned to its habitat.
In June, Singh was visiting his in-laws in Thockchom village in Manipur. They gifted him a Slow Loris whose meat is considered a delicacy in the north-eastern region. Singh however refused to kill the animal and eat it knowing that the Loris was a very rare animal.
Singh then gave the animal to the villagers asking them to ensure that it was released into the forest. The villagers called the animal rights NGO People for Animals, Manipur, for its rehabilitation which then worked with the Manipur authorities and the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF).
Saving Nanao
The villagers named the Bengal Slow Loris ‘Nanao’. When PFA activist received it, the animal was badly dehydrated, weak and tied with a metallic chain wound around its abdomen. It also had injuries on its forelimbs.
But it is here that the government agencies displayed a rare willingness to save the animal and sped into action.
Dr Brij Kishor Gupta, a wildlife expert at the Central Zoo Authority, was rushed overnight by the MoEF to Manipur. He was assigned the task of ensuring Nanao’s proper medical treatment and finding a suitable home for him, within its home range in the state itself.
“Bengal Slow Loris is an endangered animal and its population in India is also not well documented. His meat is considered a delicacy in the north-eastern region. His medical examination revealed that he was suffering from a parasitic infection. So, we first got medical treatment for him,” Gupta said. “Our main aim was to ensure that the animal goes back to the wild in its natural habitat.”
Once the vet ensured that the animal was healing properly, he then visited three national parks — Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur Zoological Park, Yangoupokpi Wildlife Sanctuary — all located within a distance of about 100km from Imphal to finalise Nanao’s release location.
Lokchao in Yangoupokpi Wildlife Sanctuary was finally chosen for releasing Nanao and it was finally set free on August 6.
Trader selling a Bengal Slow Loris in Northeast India
About Bengal Slow Loris
According to the Ruffords Small Grants Foundation Website,
Bengal Slow loris is reportedly distributed throughout NE India, Bangladesh, China and Thailand. Virtually no detail study has been conducted on its status and ecology of this species in India; hence no conservation action plan has been formulated in this region. Preliminary survey has indicated the presence of Slow Loris in Assam, India. Such studies have also indicated that the existence of the species is seriously threatened by hunting and deforestation.
MoEF’s additional director general of forests (wildlife) Jagdish Kishwan, who oversaw the work, told DNA, “Our main focus was Slow Loris’s proper rehabilitation. He is doing well in his new habitat. Quick and co-ordinated work among various authorities ensured the safety of the animal.”
Atula Gupta is the Founder and Editor of indiasendangered.com. Her work has appeared in a number of international websites, dailies and magazines including The Wire, Deccan Herald, New Indian Express, Down to Earth and Heritage India on issues related to environment and its conservation. She is also the author of Environment Science Essentials, a set of books for school children.
She hopes this website provides a platform for people to be aware about species in the verge of extinction and heighten their conservation efforts.
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Manipur’s Lourembam Nanda Singh is an animal lover, but even he did not imagine that he would one day save an animal served to him for dinner! Counted among India’s most endangered species, a Bengal Slow Loris evaded its untimely death when Singh refused to eat the animal served to him as a dish and made sure it was returned to its habitat.
One thought on “Quick Action saves Slow Loris from becoming Food”