The Slender loris is (Loris tardigradus) is a small, shy, nocturnal primate, and lives in the forest canopy of the dense rainforests of the Western Ghats. Very little is known about its population size and density. However, since the species is arboreal, it was expected that logging, which fragments its habitat, might adversely affect its population.

The Mundanthurai plateau, in the Western Ghats, was originally covered with moist deciduous forest. It has now been modified into a mosaic of dry forests, grasslands and plantations. WPSI is carrying out a study in the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve to find out if fragmentation of habitat did, in fact, alter the way in which the slender loris uses its home range.

The study is focusing on four broad areas. Firstly, it is examining if the change in habitat has impacted the size and use of the slender loris’ home range. Secondly, it is assessing whether the changes in food availability during dry and wet season affects home range use. Thirdly, it is examining the effects of home range overlap. Finally, the study is investigating how the size, type and distances of food patches affect home ranges.

Kaberi Kar Gupta from Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, is carrying out the project.