Date:02/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/02/stories/2006020213320500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Two arrested; five slender loris seized

Staff Reporter

The notional rate of a living slender loris in the illegal wildlife market is Rs. 35,000

BANGALORE: Officials of the CID Forest Cell on Tuesday arrested two persons at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district and seized from them five slender loris (Loris Tardigradus), commonly known as "Kaadupapa" in Kannada.

Inspector-General of Police (Forest Cell) K.S.N. Chikkerur on Wednesday said that on credible information, the police arrested Raghavendra Subbarai Naik (22) and Maruti Babu Seit (24) from near a hotel in Honnavar.

Naik and Seit, both residents of Beranki village in Honnavar taluk, were in possession of five slender loris, which is a Schedule-1 animal under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The notional rate of a living slender loris in the illegal wildlife market is Rs. 35,000, Mr. Chikkerur explained.

Following a written request made by the CID Forest Cell, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Honnavar, ordered the release of the animals back into the jungles, as they were very sensitive. If exposed to the glare of the sunlight, the animals may lose their eyesight, he said.

Superstition

There is a superstitious belief that eyes of slender loris are potent love charms. They were also used to cure certain eye diseases, Mr. Chikkerur said.

The Honnavar police have registered a case against the arrested persons under the Wildlife Protection Act.