Context: In a first in the country, Tamil Nadu government notified Kaduvur Slender Loris sanctuary covering 11,806 hectares in Karur and Dindigul districts.

About the Sanctuary

• According to the Tamil Nadu government, Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary, which spans 7 blocks in Karur and Dindigul districts, has notified under Section 26(A) (1) (b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 

• The Kadavur Slender Loris sanctuary is to cover Vedasandur, Dindigul East and Natham taluks in Dindigul district and Kadavur taluk in Karur district.It is India's first ever sanctuary for the endangered Slender Loris.

• It will in protecting its habitat and curbing poaching of slender loris.

• It is created by merging four reserve forests in Dindigul district which are: Pannamalai, Thanneerkaradu, Thopa Swamimalai and Mudimalai.

• In Karur district, parts of 11 reserve forests and Palaviduthi and Sembiyanatham reserved forests have also been merged.

• Earlier, Thopa swamimalai and Mullipadi reserved forest are the two locations in which the largest population of lorises were recorded. 

About Slender Loris 

• Slender lorises are small nocturnal mammals and are arboreal in nature, as they spend most of their life on trees.

• The species acts as a biological predator of pests in agricultural crops and benefits farmers.

• IUCN Status: Listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

• The species has a wide range of ecological role and importance to play in the terrestrial eco system.

• The survival of the species depends on its habitat improvement, conservation efforts and mitigation of threats.

Additional Fact
In significant steps towards conservation of wildlife, Tamil Nadu government notified India’s first:-

• Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay

• Kazhuveli bird sanctuary in Villupuram and Nanjarayan Tank birds sanctuary in Tiruppur

The State’s fifth elephant reserve at Agasthyamalai in Tirunelveli.

• Further, 13 wetlands across the State were declared as Ramsar sites.

• These pathbreaking initiatives in a short span of 15 months have put Tamil Nadu at a pivotal position in the field of conservation.