A slow loris, locally known as “Lojjaboti Banor,” which had been captured from the forests of Lama upazila in Bandarban, was released back into its natural habitat on Sunday by the Forest Department.
KM Kabir Uddin, sadar range officer of the Lama Forest Department, confirmed the development to the TIMES of Bangladesh. He said that the animal was in a healthy condition and expressed hope that it would lead an independent life in its own environment.
The animal was initially captured on Saturday from the Anghlapara area of Rupshipara union by a woodcutter named Russel. Upon receiving the information, a rescue team led by Sadar Range Officer KM Kabir Uddin and Special Team Range Officer Rony Parvez, alongside other forest workers, recovered the loris and took it into the department’s custody.
According to locals, Russel had encountered the slow loris on Saturday morning while collecting wood in the remote Murungjhiri hilly forest area. The animal reportedly bit Russel as he tried to catch it. Reacting in anger, he captured the creature and brought it to a local settlement that evening, where local journalists alerted the Forest Department to the matter.
Range Officer Kabir Uddin said that the animal belongs to an endangered and rare species. “We feel very good to be able to release the endangered and rare species into the forest in a healthy condition,” he remarked. The official estimated the age of the slow loris to be between 10 and 12 years.
