An endangered slow loris was rescued from a locality in Rangamati’s Barkal upazila on Wednesday (6 May).
The animal had wandered into a residential and market area in Garjantali, prompting locals to alert the Forest Department, Barkal Range Officer Md Omar Faruk Swadhin told The Business Standard.
“A rescue team reached the spot and recovered the animal. After an initial health check, it was released into its natural habitat at Kaptai National Park,” Omar said.
According to forest officials, the slow loris is listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with its survival increasingly threatened by deforestation, illegal hunting and trafficking.
Officials noted that the slow loris is a shy and nocturnal species, rarely seen during the day. It typically rests or sleeps on tree branches and has limited daytime vision, which restricts movement in daylight.
However, due to food scarcity or habitat loss, the species occasionally strays into human settlements.
Officials said the slow loris plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance, particularly through pollination and supporting biodiversity in forest ecosystems.
In Bangladesh, the species is mainly found in the dense forests of the Chattogram Hill Tracts-Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban-as well as in some protected forest areas in the Sylhet region.
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