Malaysian Wildlife Dept fits first radio-collar on Bornean slow loris

The Star 6 Aug 11;

KOTA KINABALU: In the dense forest of the lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, lurks a Bornean slow loris in search of insects, lizards and other prey.

So what, you might ask?

Well, that is no ordinary slow loris. It is the only species of its kind which is equipped with toxic defence and a hunting mechanism to snare its prey --insects, lizards and the like.

Going by the name, ‘Krik’, this slow loris has been fitted with a VHF radio-collar to record its every movement, ranging from sleeping habits and preferences to behaviour.

Fitted by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), the radio-collar will enable DGFC research assistant Baharudin Resake, who is in charge of the project, to locate ‘Krik’ more easily in the forest.

In a joint press statement here, the SWD and DGFC said the first such attempt on the Bornean species was part of an ongoing Nocturnal Primate Project funded by the Columbus Zoo and Cleveland Zoological Society of the United States.

DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens said: “The collar weighs less than three per cent of his (slow loris) body weight, so will not hinder the animal as he moves around the forest searching for food.

“As little is known about the Bornean slow loris, particularly in Sabah, any information collected by Baharudin, through tracking through the forest, will be important in understanding the species, from sleeping site locations and preferences, to ranging behaviour.

“With this study, we also hope to raise awareness in Sabah on the importance of protecting nocturnal primates, as much as protecting the orang utan, proboscis monkey, sun bear and the elephant.”

The slow loris, ‘Krik’, is named as such as it is one of the sounds it makes -- a kind of clicking, chirping noise.

A primatologist based at DGFC and involved in the project, Danica Stark, explained that the Bornean slow loris was one of two cryptic nocturnal primates -- the other being the Western tarsier -- in Borneo.

She said it was the only species equipped with a toxic defence and hunting mechanism, producing a toxin or poison by combining its saliva with secretions from its upper arms.

SWD director Dr Laurentius Ambu said: “Although slow lorises are protected by law from international and commercial trade, the greatest growing threat to slow lorises is the illegal pet trade, being the second most common primate species owned as pets in Asia, next to macaques.

“They have also become an important species for medicinal and ornamental trade.” - Bernama