POPULATION AND MICROHABITAT USAGE OF MALABAR SLENDER LORIS (Loris lydekkerianus malabaricus) IN HUMAN MODIFIED PLANTATIONS OF KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA
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Date
2017
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES, POOKODE WAYANAD
Abstract
A survey was conducted on Malabar Slender Lorises (Loris lydekkerianus malabaricus) in
rubber plantations of Kottayam District of Kerala. The field Survey was carried out over two
sessions from May 2017 to July 2017 and the index used for estimating relative abundance was
animal encounter rate or ‘sightings’ per km. Overall encounter rate of Slender Loris was
1.55±0.42, with highest number of encounters in Pathampuzha and Teekoy Estates (3.9/km). The
study showed a high encounter rate of Slender Loris in rubber plantations in the study area.
Estimated population density of the animals was 0.97/km based on number of sightings and area
sampled rather than transect method. The study identified rubber plantations as potential
distributional areas of Malabar Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus malabaricus). This indicated
that it is essential to surveyhuman modified landscapes such as plantations of teak (Tectona
grandis), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), coffee (Coffea sp.)
and other plantations as potential habitats for loris.
A peak in number of sightings of the animal was observed between 19:30 hrs and 21:00 hrs.
There was a linear increase in spot height with tree height and tree species. Greater number of
sightings fell in girth at breast height class between 40 and 60 cm, a finding which has an
important management implication.
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