Hello everyone and welcome to my latest log, and this time
thanks to my good friend Matt Ward I am able to bring you a detailed and interesting
report on the plight of the Slow Loris which Matt recently spent time helping
with highly important, rewarding and at times challenging research into better
preserving these fascinating Prosimians.
The Little Fireface Project, Lethal Lorises. ( Written by Matt Ward)
In the face of encroaching human presence, habitat
destruction and illegal trade the Javan Slow Loris (nycticebus Javanicus) is
ever declining and facing extinction in the wild. This species is very cute and
unfortunately for it has been the star of many You Tube videos but it is also a
very interesting animal crucial to its environment. A member of the prosimian
order of primate’s lorises are a SE Asian family that include several species
of Indonesian Slow lorises, Slender loris, Bengal loris and Pygmy slow loris.
The slow loris has a varied diet including fruit, leaves, nectar, small
insects, gum (sap-not gummy bears), frogs and occasional mammals. One of the
aspects that make these animals so special is that this diet may vary widely
depending on location and even individual differences. Over observations some
animals were seen to feed almost entirely on nectar of the Kaliandre flower
where as others would carve out grooves in specific tree species to access high
sugar gum. These animals are also very unusual in mammalian circles because
they are one of the few Venomous mammals. The venom itself is very strange as
it is a combination of compounds that come from a gland secretion on the upper
arm mixed with its saliva. Upon this mix the new material is toxic both upon
ingestion (poisonous) and through the bite of the individual (venomous). There
are several theories as to the reasons for the venom and this one of the major
driving points behind the ongoing field study on them in West Java. The study
was initiated in joint between Oxford Brookes University and the International
Animal Rescue centre in Ciapus, West Java. As the field study is still in
progress the details of the methods, field site and results cannot be shared
but the project does have a page on Facebook and a field journal blog, http://www.littlefireface.blogspot.co.uk,
where updated information on the subjects and progress can be read. The goal of
the study is to discover more about the wild behaviour and ecology of this
secretive nocturnal primate, it’s a challenging environment and difficult for
the observers (believe me, I know), but the data being gathered will further
our knowledge of these little known primates and hopefully help us conserve
them in the future.
http://www.culturequest.us/acobes/animals_files/slow_loris.jpg
And now a little from
myself. I have recently just started my Applied Zoology Honours degree. Being a part time course I now travel up and
down on the train on a daily basis. This can be a little inconvenient, however
it was a result of one of these journeys I was treated to a wonderful wildlife spectacle.
A flock of at least 60 Canadian Geese came into view flying in a wonderful,
elegant formation which few others on the train noticed. Us privileged few who
did, were treated to a sight I will remember for a long time the sheer beauty
of nature.
Finally I have received
some very exciting news. My application for placement working with African Wild
Dogs has been accepted! this means next August I will be spending two weeks
working with one of the rarest carnivores on the planet. This will mean a
return for myself to the Kwazulu Natal region of South Africa, and to say I am
excited about the prospect is an understatement!
Image taken by Author
Well thats it from me have a good week and the next one will be this time next week, until then all the best George.
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