In a first for its species, a male Bornean slow loris has been radio-collared by Malaysian researchers in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah on the island of Borneo.
The Bornean slow loris is a nocturnal primate, which lives in the forest canopy and combines saliva with its upper arm secretions to produce toxins for hunting as well as defence.
The species is listed as vulnerable on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, meaning it is close to becoming endangered.
The male, now called “Krik,” was caught by staff at the Danau Girang Field Center (DGFC) and the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD). He was brought into the lab to be weighed and measured, before being tagged and released.
DGFC released a joint press statement with the SWD about the new project, cited by Malaysian news agency Bernama.
“The collar weighs less than three per cent of his body weight, so will not hinder the animal as he moves around the forest searching for insects, lizards and other prey,” said DGFC Director Benoit Goossens in the statement.
Although protected by law, these lorises are one of the top illegally traded pets on the Asian market, after the teeth are removed to disable their toxic bite.
“Lorises face extremely high mortality rates in markets and transport of them, due to starvation, dehydration and infections from dental health injuries, as their teeth are removed to increase their sales,” he added.
They also face other threats, including being used to make medicines.
“In traditional medicine they are for example used in a tonic for women after childbirth in Cambodia; stomach problems, healing wounds and broken bones, and in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases,” Gossens told The Epoch Times via email.
Any information gathered by the researchers about Krik’s behavior, such as sleeping site locations and ranging habits, will add to our understanding of the Bornean slow loris, about which little is currently known.
“With this study, we also hope to raise the awareness in Sabah on the importance of protecting nocturnal primates as much as protecting orangutans, proboscis monkeys, sun bears and elephants,” Goossens said in the release.
