Guwahati, Feb 26: In a heartening display of community-led conservation, residents of Mohmaiki village in Bokakhat, Assam, successfully rescued an infant slow loris late on the night of February 25. The tiny, nocturnal primate was discovered clinging to a roadside structure in front of a local residence when it was suddenly targeted by a pack of barking dogs. The unusual commotion drew villagers out of their homes, where they quickly identified the wide-eyed creature as a slow loris—a rare and shy species not commonly seen in human settlements—and intervened just in time to shield the frightened animal from harm.
The rescue operation was a coordinated effort between the alert villagers and local journalists present at the scene, whose immediate reporting helped facilitate a swift response from wildlife authorities. Upon being notified, officials from the Forest Department attached to Kaziranga National Park arrived to take custody of the infant. The primate was subsequently transported to the department’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where it is currently undergoing a thorough medical examination and receiving professional care to ensure its well-being following the traumatic ordeal.
Wildlife experts and forest officials believe the presence of the infant suggests that a family of slow lorises may be inhabiting the dense vegetation near the village. It is highly probable that the baby became separated from its mother, who experts suspect remains nearby with the rest of the troop. Native to Northeast India, the slow loris is an endangered species that faces significant threats from habitat loss, illegal trade, and the ever-growing challenges of human-wildlife conflict. As arboreal animals that typically thrive in thick forest canopies, their emergence in residential areas is often a stark indicator of shrinking natural corridors.
This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between expanding human settlements and the survival of vulnerable species in Assam’s rich biodiversity hotspots. Forest officials have praised the Mohmaiki community for their rapid response and have urged residents living near forest fringes to remain vigilant. Conservationists maintain that such grassroots awareness is vital for the protection of endangered wildlife, especially as instances of animal displacement continue to rise across the region.
