Endangered Bengal Slow Loris rescued in Habiganj

Forest officials on Monday rescued an endangered Bengal Slow Loris (Nycticebus bengalensis), locally known as Lajjabati Banor, from a house in Habiganj's Chunarughat upazila and confirmed it will be released into the Satchari Reserve Forest later in the day.

The rescue was led by Satchari Range Officer Mehedi Hasan after locals restrained the animal at the home of schoolteacher Shahed Mia in Paschim Deorgach village.

Officials said the adult male loris had wandered into a social forestry area from nearby forest land.

The species is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and protected under Bangladesh’s Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.

Officials confirmed the animal was in good health with no visible injuries.

Tofazzal Sohel, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Habiganj unit, noted that IUCN reclassified the species as vulnerable in 2008, predicting a 30% population decline over next three generations due to hunting and habitat loss. He urged immediate conservation measures.

Samiul Mohsenin, coordinator of the Wildlife Conservation Society, described the loris as a small, nocturnal primate that rests curled up in trees during the day and forages at night on leaves, insects, and bird eggs. He warned of growing risks from habitat loss and illegal wildlife trafficking.

Mahmud Hossain, range officer of the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, said human activity inside protected forests is disrupting the species’ natural behavior and breeding, forcing them into localities.

He called for restricting tourists to designated trails to minimise disturbance.