Listening to the Today Programme on the BBC this morning I heard an interesting snippet on Sri Lanka – namely that the Horton Plains Slender Loris, presumed extinct, has been found and caught on camera.
Apparently, she has been missing in action since 1937 when the last confirmed sighting was made – though someone (presumably now feeling fairly smug) said they saw one in 2002.
The Horton Plains Loris’s a subspecies of the Red Slender Loris – endemic to Sri Lanka. The Horton Plains Loris has apparently had to contend with deforestation and destruction of their natural habitat. Although there is plenty of forest cover for them it is increasingly separated into forest ‘islands’ making it difficult for the Loris to get around and mate.
Dr Craig Turner on Today suggested that there was a lot of work to do in conservation and that this cute little fellow would make a good poster boy for Sri Lankan conservation. Sounds like a good idea!
The picture we have was taken by one of our crew at The Mudhouse in Anamaduwa – though this of a closely related species – the Grey Slender Loris (we think – please correct us if we are wrong!).
Contact us if you want to discuss wildlife options on your holiday to Sri Lanka – though sightings of the Horton Plains Slender Loris are not guaranteed!
You can read more (and see a picture of the cute little critter) here.