Ecology & Conservation of Bengal Slow Loris
Partner: Sufal
Duration: 2022 - Ongoing
Contact Person
Md. Sabit Hasan
Bengal Slow Loris, Nycticebus bengalensis is the only nocturnal primate in Bangladesh. It is nationally and globally endangered species due to massive habitat destruction, hunting and poaching. The study of nocturnal primates is difficult and requires challenging nocturnal sampling and survey methods. There is limited information on distribution, population status and ecology of Bengal Slow Loris. The Slow Loris is thought to have been reduced by about 50% in Bangladesh since the 2000s. Much of its remaining habitat is in small, isolated fragments that are shrinking rapidly. To manage their habitat and to set conservation action plans of this endangered species basic ecological data is crucial. There are huge research gaps on their ecology to understand them and their condition in nature. The objectives of this study are: (i) to determine the density and distribution of the Bengal slow loris in Bangladesh; (ii) to quantify home range and time activity patterns in different forest types; (iii) to characterize dietary variation and habitat use patterns in different forest patches in Bangladesh; (iv) to understand local people’s attitudes towards Bengal slow loris and other wildlife. The ecological information generated through this study will help develop conservation and management strategies for the long term conservation of the species.
