Plea to declare Kesampatti region a slender loris sanctuary

Protect grey slender lorises in Kesampatti forest area to prevent extinction, activists urge for sanctuary declaration.

The recent deaths of grey slender lorises on roads near the forest area of Kesampatti in Madurai district have revived the plea to declare the area a sanctuary to protect the species which is placed under endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

While this species is placed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, stressing the need for their protection, activists demand a study of the population and livelihood of the species in the Kesampatti region of Melur taluk. 

C. Jeeva, a resident and an environmental activist, says unlike in other areas, the grey slender lorises can be seen even during daytime in the areas surrounding Kesampatti.  With a good number of the animals present in this region, they are susceptible to being knocked down by vehicles passing through the area.  The natural ecosystem of the forest areas has already altered due to continuous mining activities in the vicinity. When external forces like vehicles and developmental activities endanger their number, the species may go extinct over a period of time, Mr. Jeeva says.

 To stress the need to protect the species, IUCN, an international organisation, has listed red slender loris under near-threatened species, and grey slender loris under endangered species.  

While India’s first slender loris sanctuary was announced in the forest area of Kadavur covering 11,806 hectares in Karur and Dindigul districts, the Kesampatti area must also be announced as another sanctuary. “If Kesampatti, Pulipatti, Melavalavu, Kambur, Pattur, Sekkipatti, Karungalakudi, Ayyapatti, Kachirayanpatti areas get protection under the sanctuary tag, there will be restrictions in place as only small vehicles will be allowed to enter areas adjoining forests. This way, incidents of the slender loris getting killed by vehicles will greatly come down,” the activist says.