The Delhi Zoo is in the process of creating a suitable enclosure for two rare Slow loris primates, seized from the IGI Airport in the Capital last year. The palm-sized nocturnal primates, currently housed at a quarantined section of the zoo, were seized from a flier when he was smuggling them wrapped in a sock and hidden in his pocket and undergarments.
The zoo authorities are now planning to house them in an exhibit where they will be protected from rats and other pests as the species is susceptible to diseases.
“We are planning a glass enclosure like we have for birds, which will be made pest-proof to protect these sensitive animals,” said Riaz Ahmed Khan, curator of Delhi Zoo. He said the primates are doing well after they were treated for trauma and injuries they had sustained while being transported at the airport.
“They need constant watch in captivity, given their diminutive size, so we might be having an enclosure which would be few feet above the ground and filled with adequate vegetation to sustain these animals,” Khan said. The animals were kept in quarantine since October last year to ensure their safety and treatment. They have been showing a lot of activity at night, which is a good sign,” a zoo official said.
The nocturnal Slow loris, found primarily in the Southeast Asian jungles, is an exotic primate about the size of a kitten, with short ears, stumpy tail and large round eyes. Indian zoos have around 40 loris, out of which the Bengal loris, found in the northeast, is most commonly found.
After being rescued, the two rare primates have been kept in quarantine. “They are rare breeds and susceptible to diseases or infections. They are not being put on display in the zoo and are kept in the zoo hospital. The matter is pending in the court. “
Notably, in the first week of September last year, the CISF officials seized the two rare monkeys from Dubai nationals during security check at the airport. The species, identified as Pygmy Slow loris that are native to Vietnam, laos and China, were being smuggled from Bangkok to Dubai by three passengers. One was found hidden between two layers of the male passenger’s undergarments and the other was abandoned at the airport dustbin.