Population survey of the

Technical Report 4-09

Bengal Slow Loris Nycticebus bengalensis in Meghalaya, northeastern India

Submitted to: Primate Action Fund Conservation International Foundation, USA

Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation Group National Institute of Advanced Studies Bangalore 560 012, India.
Correspondence: Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore 560 012, India, Tel: +91-80-22185115, Fax: +91-80-22185028, Email: sindhu@nias.iisc.ernet.in

Sindhu Radhakrishna,1 Anirban Datta-Roy2, Swapna N3 and Anindya Sinha1,4

1

National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment 3 242, 18th C main, 6th block, Koramangala, Bangalore 4 Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India
2

National Institute of Advanced Studies

Abstract
The Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis is a nocturnal prosimian primate that inhabits the forests of northeastern India. As with many nocturnal prosimian species, little is known about its behaviour or ecology; even less information is available on its distribution and population status in northeastern India. The primary aim of this project was to survey forest patches in Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India, in order to assess distribution patterns of the species in the state. A secondary aim was to estimate the severity of survival threats that may affect the long-term survival of the slow loris in Meghalaya. We conducted surveys in sixteen sites in six districts of Meghalaya. Slow lorises were sighted in only two sites; however, information obtained through secondary sources indicated that the animal was present in some of the forest patches across the state. Many of the surveyed locations were severely affected by logging, poaching and forest fires; it is imperative that conservation measures, aimed at strictly protecting existing forest patches, be urgently implemented in order to ensure the long-term survival of the slow loris and other mammals in the state.

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

Table of Contents

Abstract | 2 Acknowledgements| 5 6 | Project Objectives Introduction | 6 Aims | 7 8 | Methodology Areas Surveyed | 8 Field Methods | 11 Field Surveys | 11 Secondary Information | 12 13 | Results Survey Findings | 13 Animal Sightings | 13 Secondary Information | 14 Slow Loris Distribution in Meghalaya | 15 Habitat Disturbance | 16 Threats to the Slow Loris | 19 20 | Conclusions and Recommendations References | 22

List of Tables & Figures

Figures
Figure 1: Map of Meghalaya and its position within India | 8 Figure 2: Forest cover and state administered forest lands in Meghalaya | 10 Figure 3: Slow Loris distribution in Meghalaya | 16

Tables
Table 1: Relative abundance of Slow Loris and Flying Squirrels | 14 Table 2: Secondary information on presence of Slow Loris | 15 Table 3: Threat levels and severity of fires in survey locations | 18

Acknowledgements
This study was supported by funds received from Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation Conservation International and we thank Dr Anthony Rylands and Ms Ella Outlaw for their support and aid during this project. We also thank the forest department of Meghalaya, particularly the Chief Conservator of Forests (RT & WL), for research permits to conduct this study. Very little of this work would have been possible without the help and guidance of innumerable friends and acquaintances in the field our sincere gratitude to all those who generously came forward to help us out in all the ways they could. As ever, we owe our family members much, for their remarkable patience and unstinting support of our journeys to find the beast!

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

Project Objectives
Introduction
The Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) is one of the two nocturnal primates species found in India - even among the relatively less-studied nocturnal prosimians, it remains the least known of them (Nekaris and Bearder 2006). A telling illustration of this is that until 2007, the IUCN Red List had listed the species as data deficient, pointing out the lack of adequate informationbased on its distribution and/or population status. The IUCN Red List (2009) now classifies the species as Vulnerable and notes that the species is predicted to decline by more than 30% in the next three generations over its entire range due to continuing hunting pressures and loss of habitat. In India, until a few years ago, distributional and behavioral information on the status of the slow loris was, for the most part, unknown. Preliminary population surveys had reported the presence of the species in the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura in India (Choudhury 1992, 1996; Srivastava 1999). Such studies also indicated that the existence of the species was seriously threatened by hunting and deforestation, and that it had become locally extinct in some forest areas in the region (Srivastava 1999, Choudhury 2001). However, the lack of specific and detailed information on population densities and habitat variables of the species in these areas impedes the development of any conservation strategies to protect the Bengal slow loris. This project is part of a long-term study begun in 2004 aimed towards documenting distributional and ecological information about the Bengal slow loris in northeastern India. Its objectives are to map the distribution of the species in India, estimate abundances in different habitats, assess conservation threats to the long-term survival of the species and collect ecological and behavioral data through long-term studies on wild populations of the species. Surveys have been conducted in the states of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura in northeastern India; slow lorises were sighted in less than 20% of the surveyed sites (Radhakrishna et al 2006, Swapna et al 2008) Death caused by speeding vehicles, disturbance caused by tree
Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India 6

felling, trapping and hunting were identified as crucial survival threats to the species (Radhakrishna et al 2006). A recent study on the feeding ecology of the species in Tripura, northeastern India indicates that Bengal slow lorises feed largely on tree exudates, thereby making them more vulnerable to habitat losses (Swapna et al, in press). These results underline the need for more intensive surveys in the other states of northeastern India in order to understand local conservation threats to the species and assess distributional limits of the species in India.

Aims
The primary aim of this study was to conduct a rapid preliminary assessment of the distribution and relative abundance of Nycticebus bengalensis in the forest areas of Meghalaya state in northeastern India. An important secondary objective of the study was to assess the nature and extent of potential threats that may affect the long survival of slow loris populations in the state.

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

Methodology
Areas Surveyed
Initially, we had planned to conduct the survey for slow lorises in the forested areas of Meghalaya and Mizoram, two states in northeastern India. However prolonged drought conditions and vast stretches of dried bamboo culms following gregarious flowering of the plant species caused serious wildfire outbreaks in many parts of Mizoram. Due to this, entry was restricted into protected forest areas and it was not possible to obtain research permits for a field survey in Mizoram. Hence the study was only conducted in the state of Meghalaya

Figure 1 Map of Meghalaya and its position within India

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

Meghalaya (2458N to 2603N and 8951E to 9249E) is a small state in the southern part of northeastern India, bounded by the state of Assam on the north and east and Bangladesh on the south (Figure 1). The terrain is largely hilly and nearly 70% of the geographical area of the state is under forest cover (http://megforest.gov.in.). Temperatures range from about 38C in June to about 2C in January the western part of the state is warmer, while the central uplands remain cool throughout the year (FSI 2005). The average rainfall in the state varies from 4000mm to 11, 436mm rain tends to begin towards the end of May and continues until early October. The southern slopes of the Khasi hills receive the highest rainfall in Meghalaya (http://megipr.gov.in) The major forest types found in the state have been identified as Tropical Wet Evergreen, Tropical Moist Deciduous, Tropical Semi Evergreen Forest, and Assam Sub Tropical Pine Forests (FSI 2005). Districtwise, West Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills have the largest forest cover, amounting to almost 4,029 and 2,974 sq km respectively (FSI 2005). More than 90% of the total forest area of the State is either private or clan /community owned and falls under the control and management of the Autonomous District Councils (http://megforest.gov.in). Notified forest land that is administered by the State Forest Department comprises two National Parks, three Wildlife Sanctuaries and more than 24 Reserved Forest patches scattered across six districts in the state (Figure 2). .

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

Figure 2 Forest Cover and State Administered Forest Lands in Meghalaya

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

10

Field Methods
Information on the presence of Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) was collected through field surveys and secondary sources of information. Field surveys also provided information on disturbance levels and habitat types of the survey locations. Secondary information on the presence of slow loris was sourced from forest department personnel and local experts.

Field Surveys
Presence of slow loris and other nocturnal mammals were detected in the field during night transects. Transects were conducted along established human and animal trails, roads, streams, and rivers. In the case of metalled roads passing through the forest, slow moving four wheeler vehicles were used to survey the roads. This was usually applied in areas with high number of rogue elephant incidents. On one occasion a boat was used to survey forests along the river as it provided the best access in that terrain. Line transects were not feasible in most of the survey sites due to limited time, lack of existing transects and steep terrain. Hence we employed an encounter rate survey, using recce sampling (Walsh and White, 1999) and based on direct sightings of the animals. This was done to maximise coverage of forest areas and to eliminate methodological constraints of the traditional line transect method used for distance sampling (Burnham et al 1980.). Slow loris encounter rates were calculated based on the total number of sightings and the distance surveyed. This was used as an index of Relative Abundance of the species. Nocturnal surveys were conducted between 1900 to 2300 hrs. Two to four observers walked slowly and silently, flashing torches and headlamps to detect the characteristic orange eyeshine emitted by Nycticebus. Whenever an eye-shine was detected, a high powered spotting light was used in conjunction with binoculars to confirm the identity of the species. We recorded details of all animal sightings such as identity of species, numbers and age-sex composition. Calls and sounds were also used to detect animals in the field. We traversed nightly survey routes during the day to record information on habitat and
Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India 11

disturbance parameters. We evaluated disturbance levels in surveyed sites, with particular reference to certain factors that may prove to be significant threats to the long-term survival of the slow loris. These factors were hunting pressure, habitat destruction through logging or conversion to agricultural land, habitat disturbance through people/cattle movement, collection of firewood/NTFP products and occurrence of forest fires. In addition, we also collected information on more direct survival threats to the slow loris such as electrocution, road kills, and instances of capture as pets. During these walks, information on diurnal mammals and birds through opportunistic sightings/calls were also recorded.

Secondary Information
Secondary information on the presence of Nycticebus bengalensis was sourced from State Forest Department records wherever maintained. This consisted of details of seizures or rescues of captured animals. When available, this provided us with the locality of origin of the animal as well as the number of animals, age and sex. Additional information on Loris presence was obtained through informal, semi-structured interviews with local experts, hunters and knowledgeable elders living in the vicinity of forests. Locals were shown photographs of the slow loris to identify, and to questioned to provide information on slow loris sightings within the last five years in that area.

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

12

Results
Survey Findings
The survey was conducted from February 2009 to April 2009. A total of 144.45 kilometres were covered during the course of the survey, of which 96.45 kilometres were covered on foot, 39 kilometres on four wheeled vehicles and 9 kilometres by a non motorised boat. We surveyed a total of 16 locations in 6 districts of Meghalaya (Table 1). The survey sites included 11 forest areas under the control of the State Forest Department (National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Reserve Forest) and 5 areas that were Community controlled forest lands.

Animal Sightings
Nocturnal Animals Slow Loris: We sighted slow loris individuals on two occasions in two different field sites. Both individuals were adult males. One individual was seen in Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in Khasi Hills and the other sighting occurred in the Narpuh Reserve Forest of Jaintia Hills. The relative abundance based on sightings in the two field sites was calculated to be 0.04 (Narpuh RF) and 0.1 (Nongkhyllem WLS ). Flying Squirrels: We sighted two species of flying squirrels on eight occasions in three different field sites. The Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista) was sighted in Dambu RF in East Garo Hills and Narpuh RF in Jaintia Hills, while the smaller and rarer Particoloured Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger) was sighted in Balpakram NP in South Garo Hills and Dambu RF in East Garo Hills (Table 2). Viverrids: Four species of Viverrids were sighted on ten different occasions in six of the field sites. These were the Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphrodites (four sites), the Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica (one site), the Large Indian Civet Viverra zibetha (one site) and the Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata (one site).

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

13

Table 1 Relative abundance of Slow Loris and Flying Squirrels

Slow Loris Distance Covered in Km 14 19 3 10.25 Total Sighted 0 0 0 1 Relative Abundance 0.1 Flying Squirrel Total Sighted 4 1 1 0 Relative Abundance 0.29 0.05 0.33 -

Location 1 2 3 4 Dambu RF, East Garo Hills District Balpakram NP, South Garo Hills District Dalengittim CRF, South Garo Hills District Nongkhyllem WLS, Ri Bhoi District Narpuh RF, Jaintia Hills District

26

0.04

0.12

Chiropterans: Two species of bats were sighted during the nocturnal transects. The Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) was sighted in Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills, while the Fulvous Fruit Bat (Rousettus leschenaulti) was sighted in Garo Hills. Various other Microchiropterans were sighted, but it was not possible to positively identify them. Diurnal Animals: We detected twelve species of mammals and >60 species of birds during the course of our survey. These detections were based entirely on direct evidence such as sightings or calls. Animals were detected during diurnal walks to evaluate the habitat for signs of disturbance.

Secondary Information
Apart from direct sightings during transects, we also collected information on the presence of lorises in forest patches from secondary sources such as forest department personnel and local people living beside forest areas. Details of the location and year of loris sighting by these secondary sources are provided in Table 2.

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

14

Table 2Secondary information on presence of Slow Loris

Year 1 2 3 4 1996 2002 2008 2007-08 Location Angratoli RF, South Garo Hills District Darugiri RF, East Garo Hills District Angratoli RF, South Garo Hills District Sibbari-Jacksongram CRF, South Garo Hills District Dambuk adingre CRF, South Garo Hills District Siju Dobakol caves, South Garo Hills District Siju Forest complex, South Garo Hills District Matcha nokpante CRF , South Garo Hills District Jowai vicinity, Jaintia Hills Baghmara, South Garo Hills District Sightings 2 1 3 4 Age/Sex Adults Adult male Adults Details Reported by forest beat officer Reported by forest beat officer Reported by forest guards

2 Adults, Reported by local 2 Infants Reported by local

2008

2004

Adult

Reported by forest guard Reported by forest guard, was electrocuted on overhead wires Reported by local

2008

Adult

2005

Juvenile

2007

Adult Adult

Forest department seizure Crossing road near the Baghmara town

10

2008

Slow Loris Distribution in Meghalaya

Data gathered during the study attests that slow loris populations are present in fragmented forest patches at the southern end of South Garo Hills district, in the northern parts of Ri-Bhoi district around the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, and in the southern parts of Jaintia Hills district (Figure 3). Slow loris populations may also be present in the forest patches of central East Garo Hills. However repeated enquiries did not elicit any information on the presence of slow lorises in the southern parts of East Khasi Hills. Indigenous people living in these areas
Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India 15

also appeared quite unfamiliar with the species, which argues that slow lorises, if present earlier, may have become locally extinct from these parts.

Figure 3 Slow Loris distribution in Meghalaya

Habitat Disturbance
Habitat destruction or large scale changes in the natural vegetation structure of the area was clearly visible across all the study sites (Table 3). We also encountered evidence of wildlife hunting across most of the study sites. In large parts of Meghalaya, community controlled forests are rapidly being converted to monoculture stands of cashew, rubber and areca nut. We did not detect slow lorises in patches of such monocultures; our observations tally with those of local people who observed that they had never observed slow lorises in such monoculture plantations. Most of the Reserved Forests that were surveyed showed very high levels of disturbance and evidence of logging. In addition, clear felling was seen in some places where mining has taken over the landscape. The clear felling was done in the mining locations as well as to make roads through forests to assist in the transportation of mined products. Open dumping of coal on the roadsides and river banks have also led to pollution in the rivers, which has seen a drastic reduction in the fish fauna. Habitat destruction in the form of jhum or slash-and-burn cultivation has increased in magnitude due to the paucity of land and increase in human population. Clear felling and eventual burning of patches of forests have a serious detrimental effect on slow lorises local people reported that during the jhum
Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India 16

fires, lorises are occasionally found moving towards human habitation for protection. Man-made fires: This is distinguished from the jhum fires that are typically encountered in hilly community controlled forest areas. Low lying areas in Meghalaya, as exists in parts of Garo Hills are extremely susceptible to fires in the dry season. These areas are predominantly plantations of teak (Tectona grandis) or sal (Shorea robusta) that were later accorded the status of Reserve Forests and have remained as the only wildlife refuges in those areas. These forests are primarily deciduous. During the summer, the forest floor is completely covered with dry leaves which can ignite at the slightest spark. Fires are common during this season and are almost entirely deliberate and man-made. As such forest patches are usually surrounded by human habitation or agricultural fields, there is no place for the animals to flee to, and these fires typically prove fatal for the wildlife in these areas.

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

17

Table 3 Threat levels and severity of fires in survey locations

Survey Location Ringsangre/Selbalgre CRF, West Garo Hills District Dariwokgre (Nokrek NP), West Garo Hills District Rongrengiri RF, East Darugiri RF, East Garo Hills District Dambu RF, East Garo Baghmara RF, South Angratoli RF, South Garo Chambilgiri CRF, West Garo Hills District Siju WLS, South Garo Disturbance Fire ranking ranking Primary threats Small size, NTFP and bamboo extraction by surrounding habitations, jhum cultivation in the vicinity Jhum cultivation, firewood extraction Illegal logging, poaching, fire Surrounded by human habitation and crop fields, extensive firewood and NTFP extraction, highway, fire Incursion of cultivation and coffee plantation, Illegal logging, poaching, highway, electric Highway, human presence, electric lines, illeSmall size, orchards and jhum cultivation, highway Small size, fire, coal mining Highway, illegal logging, human presence Fire, jhum cultivation, encroachment, coal mining Jhum cultivation, plantations, highway, small size, illegal logging Poaching, illegal logging, firewood extraction Jhum cultivation, NTFP and firewood extraction, poaching, trapping Fire, encroachment of plantations

+++

2 3

++ ++

****

+++

***

5 6 7 8 9

+++ ++ +++ ++++ + +++ + +++ +++ +++ +

** ** *** **** *** ** * ** ** *

10 Rewak RF, South Garo 11 Balpakram NP, South Garo Hills District

12 Matcha nokpante CRF 13 Dalengittim CRF, South 14 15 Umblai, East Khasi Hills District Nongkhylem WLS, Ri Bhoi District

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

18

Table 3 Threat levels and severity of fires in survey locations [...continued]

Survey Location 16 Narpuh RF, Jaintia Hills District Disturbance Fire ranking ranking +++ ** Primary threats Highway, encroachment, human presence, fire, water pollution

CRF=Community Reserve Forest, RF=Reserve Forest, NP=National Park, WLS=Wildlife Sanctuary)

Threats to the Slow Loris

Information collected from forest department personnel and local people, during the course of the survey, clearly indicated that hunting and capture of slow lorises is a common practice in many parts of the state. Hunting: Interviews with local people indicated that slow lorises were hunted for its meat. However because of its small size, hunters were not interested in the species specifically as a regular source of meat. Instead slow loris hunting appeared to be opportunistic, and individuals were killed only when encountered accidentally, or during hunts for other mammals. There also did not appear to be a commercial trade of loris body parts, and people did not report hunting slow lorises for reasons other than for its meat. Capture as pets: Capture of slow lorises and other primates to be kept as pets is a widespread custom in many parts of the state. This was especially evident in the Garo Hills which has retained a large amount of the original fauna in comparison to the Khasi and Jaintia hills. Hunters and local people indicated that the slow loris was a preferred pet and whenever encountered, was captured to be kept as a pet in their houses. Sometimes, such loris pets were seized by the forest department and released in adjacent forest patches, while in the larger majority of the cases such loris pets typically remained/died in captivity. Electrocution and Road kills: We did not encounter any evidence of slow loris road kills during our study; there was one report of a slow loris being electrocuted on overhead power lines near the Siju WLS in Garo Hills.

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

19

Conclusions and Recommendations

Despite the low encounter rates of Nycticebus bengalensis during this study (detected in only two out of sixteen sites), secondary information collected during the course of the survey does indicate the presence of Bengal slow lorises in many of the forest patches in Meghalaya. However, it would appear that the species is generally present in very low densities in Meghalaya. That this is not an artefact of the sampling methodology is borne out by the finding that surveys for slow lorises, in the northeastern states of Tripura and Assam, using similar methodology, have resulted in low/nil encounter rates in many sites but high encounter rates in certain sites. Nekaris and Nijman (2007) report that encounter rates for Nycticebus bengalensis are 5-15 lower than for Nycticebus coucang; the results of this survey underline the need to investigate in more detail the factors affecting slow loris abundance in different parts of northeastern India. Indigenous people living in settlements near forest areas reported many instances of slow lorises wandering out of the forest and into the houses or the village areas. To some extent, these statements may be attributed to the fact that the slow loris is a popular pet and this is a safer explanation for the presence of lorises in their homes rather than having captured it from the forests. However, higher encounter rates of slow lorises at forest edges has been reported earlier (Johns 1986, Radhakrishna et al 2006, Swapna pers comm.). A more detailed investigation into this aspect of slow loris behaviour will provide a deeper insight into factors affecting the long-term survival of the species. An important factor affecting the distribution and abundance of Nycticebus bengalensis in Meghalaya may be attributed to the severe disturbance affecting most of the forest patches in the state. Apart from age-old threats such as logging and hunting, newer threats such manmade fires and mining has virtually decimated forest cover across the state. Man-made forest fires were encountered in 13 (81.25%) of the survey sites in different levels of severity. Forest fires are especially fatal for slow moving animals such as slow lorises and were undoubtedly a critical reason for the low encounter rate of slow lorises and flying squirrels during this survey. 2009 has seen exceptionally severe fires across northeastern India.
Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India 20

Rampant and illegal coal and limestone mining in many parts of Meghalaya, in the past, has led to large-scale destruction of forest cover in the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, and irreversible damage to the environment in the form of polluted water bodies. This threat is now rapidly spreading in the Garo Hills district which still possesses large stretches of community controlled as well as protected areas. The lack of a mining policy in the state has made sure that there is wanton destruction of community forests for mining and building of access roads. Unless conservation measures that focus on ending such habitat destruction are implemented urgently, it may well mean the end for the few remaining populations of slow lorises and other mammals that still remain here.

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

21

References

Burnham et al Burnham, K. P., Anderson, D. R., and Laake, J. L. (1980). Estimation of density from line transect sampling of biological populations. Wildlife Monographs. 72: 1 202

Choudhury, A. U. (1992) The slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) in northeast India. Primate Report, 34, 7783.

Choudhury, AU (1996). Primates in Bherjan, Borajan and Podumoni Reserved Forests of Assam, India. Asian Primates 5(3&4): 10-11.

Choudhury, A.U. (2001) Primates in northeast India: An overview of their distribution and conservation status. In ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected Areas, Non-Human Primates of India, Gupta, A. K. (ed), 1, 92101.

Forest Survey of India (2005). State of Forest Report, Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. IUCN (2009). 2009 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland.

Johns 1986 Johns AD (1986). Effects of selective logging on the behavioural ecology of west Malaysian primates. Ecology 67: 684-694.

Nekaris K A I and Nijman V (2007) CITES proposal highlights rarity of Asian Nocturnal primates (Lorisidae: Nycticebus) Folia Primatologica 78:211-214

Nekaris, K.A.I., Bearder, S.K (2006) The Lorisiform Primates of Asia and Mainland Africa. Primates in Perspective, Campbell CJ, Fuentes A, Mackinon KC, Panger M and Bearder SK (eds), pp. 24-25. Oxford University Press.

Radhakrishna, S., Goswami, B.A. and Sinha, A. (2006) Distribution and conservation of Nycticebus bengalensis in Northeastern India. International Journal of Primatology, 27: 971-982

Srivastava, A. (1999). Primates of Northeast India, Megadiversity Press, Bikaner, India.

22

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

Swapna N, Gupta A, and Radhakrishna S (2008). Distribution survey of Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis in Tripura, northeastern India. Asian Primates Journal 1(1): 37-40.

Walsh, P. D., and White L. J. T. (1999). What it will take to monitor forest elephant populations. Conservation Biology, 13: 1941202.

Electronic sources

http://megforest.gov.in (accessed on October 15, 2009) http://megipr.gov.in (accessed on October 15, 2009) http://meghalaya.nic.in/maps/district.htm (accessed on October 15, 2009)

Population survey of Bengal Slow Loris in Meghalaya, northeastern India

23