A baby slow loris was rescued from Mohmaiki village in Bokakhat, Assam, late on February 25 after alert residents intervened to protect the infant from a pack of dogs. The primate was discovered climbing along a roadside in front of a house and was being chased by barking dogs when villagers noticed the commotion and moved in to help.
Locals who saw the animal quickly identified it as a slow loris, a nocturnal primate noted for its large eyes and shy behaviour. Villagers managed to recover the frightened infant before it could be harmed, and their prompt action, together with a local rescue team and journalists at the scene, enabled rapid contact with forest authorities.
Officials from the Forest Department attached to Kaziranga National Park arrived soon after receiving the report and took custody of the baby slow loris. The animal was handed over to the department’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for medical examination and further care.
Forest Department staff said the presence of an infant in the village indicates a possible slow loris family in the area. Experts at the rehabilitation centre told officials it was likely the young animal had strayed from its mother, who may still be nearby along with other family members.
Slow lorises are native to parts of Northeast India and are classified as endangered, officials noted, facing threats from habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade and rising human-wildlife conflict. Being nocturnal and arboreal, these primates typically live in dense forest canopies; their appearance in human settlements can signal ecological disturbance or shrinking habitat corridors.
Authorities have urged residents living on forest fringes to remain vigilant and to immediately inform the Forest Department if they spot similar wildlife. Conservationists emphasise that community awareness and quick local response are vital for protecting vulnerable species like the slow loris.
The rescue highlights the fragile interface between expanding human settlements and endangered wildlife in Assam, a biodiversity hotspot that continues to see increasing instances of animal displacement.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/endangered-baby-slow-loris-rescued-from-stray-dogs-in-assams-bokakhat-1351783-2026-02-26?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-02-26 09:34:00
