Lost slow loris returned to forest in Prachuap Khiri Khan

The Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park authorities in the western province of Prachuap Khiri Khan returned a lost slow loris to the forest after it wandered into a residential area today in search of food.

The resident who discovered the animal, Weera Rairueng, told reporters that he heard an unfamiliar animal sound coming from a banana plantation behind his house and went to check it out. At first, he thought the animal was a squirrel, but upon closer observation, he realized it was a slow loris and promptly reported it to the authorities.

The leader of the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Kajohn Yotying, said he and his team spotted the slow loris climbing over a banana tree. They used a long fruit-picker basket to retrieve the animal and put it into a sack before releasing it back into the forest.

Kajohn explained that the slow loris was a grown-up and that they typically prefer living alone on top of trees, coming out at night to search for food. During the day, they move very slowly and attempt to hide their face from the light. Thai people call the animal “Nang Eye” (นางอาย) because it always hides its face.

Slow lorises are considered controlled wildlife under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, and catching or trading them can result in imprisonment of up to four years, a fine of up to 40,000 baht, or both.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park recently won the Green National Park Shield Award from the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion and the Department of National Parks of Thailand. The award was given as both locals and government departments of the area maintain the successful balance of tourism practice and environment conservation.