The slender loris is a small nocturnal primate that is endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka. They once lived in remnant forest patches, in lakeside woods, as well as on large trees in the neighborhoods within the city of Bangalore. However with the rapid urban development and growth of the city, loris population are now restricted to few pockets of Bangalore. There are regular reports of injured animals being rescued by the rehabilitation centers of the city. Illegal pet trades and black magic are also occasionally reported. Currently, there is no baseline information on the status of this species, availability of habitats or any hunting pressures for black magic.. The Urban Slender Loris Project aims at documenting the past and present distribution of slender lorises in the landscapes of urban Bangalore. Our team of citizen scientists are currently conducting nocturnal census and habitat survey to quantify the pressures on lorises and threats on the population within the city through habitat loss, hunting, or the illegal pet trade. This multidisciplinary, citizen science project is currently developing partnerships with environmental nonprofits, IT industry, educational institutes and government organizations to develop a better plan for managing the city’s urban green space to accommodate wildlife coexisting with a growing human population.
