An endangered Bengal slow loris has been rescued from a village along the Indian border in Habiganj's Madhabpur Upazila.
The animal was later handed over to the Department of Nature and Wildlife Conservation on Thursday.
The prosimian (locally known as Lajjabati Banar or shy monkey) has soft gray or brown fur and can be recognized by their huge eyes encircled by dark patches and by their short index fingers. It is a strepsirrhine primate and species of slow loris native to the Indian subcontinent and Indochina.
Mojahid Mosi, president of the Habiganj Bird Lovers' Society, said they found the rare animal on the night of April 19 in Kamalpur village.
With the help of locals, the animal was captured and kept in a cage. At some point in the night, the animal escaped by cutting the cage. After much searching on Wednesday night, the animal was rescued in ill condition from a secluded rain-soaked spot near the home of Mojahid.
Later, Tofail Ahmed Chowdhury, range officer of Habiganj Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, was contacted and it was handed over to the Forest Department on Thursday.
According to Tofail, slow lorises are very rare. The mammal may be innocent to look at, but they are highly poisonous. This animal is on the verge of extinction.
“The rescued animal is currently ill. So it will be released in the Satchari National Park after ensuring proper treatment,” he added.
