Recently, staff from the environmental protection organization Wildlife At Risk discovered the presence of the Bengal Slow Loris on Phu Quoc Island.
On June 8, Master Nguyen Vu Khoi from Wildlife At Risk reported that during two surveys conducted in January 2005 and April 2006, the presence of a Bengal Slow Loris was identified on Phu Quoc Island.
This marks the first time the Bengal Slow Loris has been detected on Phu Quoc. Previously, scientific literature indicated that this species was only found from the northern border of Vietnam down to Thua Thien Hue.
A local farmer on Phu Quoc Island captured three Bengal Slow Lorises in his garden (two in October 2005 and one in December 2005). They entered the farmland adjacent to the forest to feed on jackfruit and cashew nuts grown in the garden.
Initial descriptions of the three photographed Bengal Slow Lorises indicate a body length from head to tail of 37 cm, with thick light brown fur compared to the smaller species and a brown stripe running down the back.
According to the farmer and the rangers from the national park, the Bengal Slow Loris population here includes both large and small individuals. They are relatively common in the forest, especially after the rainy season, and are often seen along roadsides and forest edges at night.
Images of this Bengal Slow Loris have been verified by experts from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Mr. Dang Huy Phuong, along with Dr. Ulrike Streicher from the Endangered Wildlife Rescue Center at Cuc Phuong National Park. This species has been confirmed as the Bengal Slow Loris (Nycticebus bengalensis).
Currently, the farmer has voluntarily released these three Bengal Slow Lorises back into the forest.
The Bengal Slow Loris is a protected species as it is listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam and is subject to regulations from the forestry sector.
In the near future, scientists will continue to survey the population density of Slow Loris species on Phu Quoc.
Images of the Bengal Slow Loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) taken in April 2006 on Phu Quoc:
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Images of the Pygmy Slow Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) taken inland for verification (2006):
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The Pygmy Slow Loris found inland… | …has darker fur. |
H. Cat
