A rare slow loris has been released after being rescued in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur.

The animal was released in the Garo Hills at around 10:30pm on Tuesday, 7 April, after being rescued from Defalai in the upazila at around 8pm.

According to the forest department, local people spotted the slow loris in the Defalai area of the Garo Hills. Thinking at first that it was a bear cub, a panda or a tiger cub, they tried to attack it. On hearing the news, a team of forest department staff and local volunteers went to the spot, explained to the villagers what the animal was, and took it away.

The rescue team included Md Arfan Ali, Abdur Razzak and Rabbi Mia of the Elephant Response Team, Madhutila; volunteers including teacher Ramjan Mia and Sajib Mia; Rahmat Ali, a member of the "Hatir Khobor O Sochetonota" group; and Ziaur Rahman, in charge of the Gazni beat of Rangtia range.

Animal rights activist Kanchan Mister Marak said the slow loris was rescued and later released in a safe place under the direction and advice of Zahir Uddin Akon, conservator of forests for the central region of the Forest Department.

Naim Islam, Sherpur convener of Save the Wildlife and Nature (SWAN), said the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has red-listed the slow loris as an endangered animal. Slow lorises cannot see in daylight, he said, which is why the animal rescued on Tuesday night was released in the Garo Hills that night.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.