Rarest ape in the world

By Saliya Kumara Gunasekara

Scientists were earlier of the view that the Slender Loris (Sri Lanka Kandukara Unahapuluwa) endemic to Sri Lanka and seen in the Horton Plains was extinct. This was decided since 72 years ago. In 1938, an English planter named ‘ Nethaliez’ found that the Slender Loris lives around the jungles of Horton Plains. He captured one female and two male animals and named them ‘ Horton Plains Slender Loris’. Recent studies on the animal were carried out by Saman Gamage of the Zoology Department of the University of Colombo. This programme was supported by 16 members including Prof. Sarath Kotagama, U.K.G.K Pathmalal and James T. Reardon from the London Zoological Society.
In order to study the Horton Plains Slender Loris, the crew did reseach in the hilly areas of Horton Plains. They then located the animal. “We continued our research on the Horton Plains Slender Loris. This animal is said to be the rarest ape in the world. It is only adapted to night life,” Saman Gamage said.
The limbs of the Loris are similar to those of a monkey. Its length is 202 mm and the weight is 220 grams. The colour of the animal is a mix of brown and ash. Saman Gamage says that this animal is conditioned to live in areas higher than 1800 meters above sea level. The researchers had captured a Loris to examine it and it was sent back to the jungle after the study was completed. However, zoologists say that numbers have depleted.
Loris is an insectivorous mammal which also eats fruit. Researchers recently took the first ever photograph of this animal.