Alarming Study: Most Rescued Slow Lorises Die After Release in Bangladesh Park
A new study reveals a worrying truth about rescued wildlife in Bangladesh. Most Bengal slow lorises released into a protected forest did not survive. Out of nine lorises set free in Lawachara National Park, seven died within six months. This raises serious questions about how wildlife is currently released.
The international research journal Global Ecology and Conservation published this study this year. Bangladeshi researcher Hasan Al-Razi led the research team. Ten other scientists from Bangladesh and other countries also helped with the study. Institutions from Germany, Australia, and the UK, along with Bangladesh’s Forest Department, supported this work.
Researchers found that attacks from other slow lorises caused many deaths. Four of the seven dead animals had clear signs of fatal attacks. Slow lorises may look calm, but they strongly protect their areas. When a new animal enters an area, it can face dangerous fights.
Professor Mohammad Firoj Jaman from Dhaka University explained this problem. He said animals should not be released without careful planning. There are clear rules for releasing animals, but these rules are often not followed well. This study highlights that issue.
The slow lorises in the study were rescued from different places. Some were saved from poachers or traders. Others were found near human homes. Before their release, experts checked the animals for injuries and illness. Underweight lorises stayed at a rehabilitation centre until they became healthy.
Nine lorises were released in Lawachara between July 2022 and September 2023. Researchers fitted small radio collars on them. They watched their movements for eight months. Three lorises died within ten days. Four more died later. Only two lorises survived for more than six months.
Releasing too many animals in the same place can be harmful. In one area near a rescue centre, none of the five released lorises survived. Researchers believe that too many releases in that spot led to increased competition for food and space. This made it difficult for new lorises to adapt.
Hasan Al-Razi said wildlife rescue sometimes becomes a “show off.” People release animals without thinking carefully. He stressed the need for change. It is not enough to find a green forest. Rescuers must know how many animals already live there. They also need to check for available space and enough food.
Mohammad Zahidul Kabir, a senior officer at the Forest Department, was part of the study. He said the study’s findings offer an important lesson. The researchers suggest several steps. These include checking the number of animals in an area before release. They also recommend full health checks and watching animals for a long time.
Mohammad Sanaullah Patwari from the Forest Department agreed there are shortcomings. He said the department also faces a shortage of staff and resources. Wildlife experts say a rescue operation’s true success is not just a photograph of an animal being released. True success means the animal lives and thrives in its new home.
