Northern grey slender Loris:

Latest visitor to Vil Uyana

Naturalist at Jetwing Vil Uyana Chaminda Indika tells the story of his experience after seen the Northern grey slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus nordicus).

It all started when I heard a sound that resembled the Loris whistle, reminding me of what I had heard last July - the presence of the Loris. With the permission from Vil Uyana General Manager to create a path through the forest near the hotel his adventure began in search of the Grey Slender Loris.

"I entered the trail at 7.30pm carrying a red lit torch, in order to locate the animal. After about 10 minutes I suddenly saw one red-eye in the dense bush but did not pay any attention to it initially as it was only one faint red light.

However, after a few seconds I recognized that this one red eye was most definitely a Loris' eye. The Loris was on a tree two metres above ground level,", Chaminda says.

It must have had an eye problem as I could only see one red eye the entire time I was observing it. Although I had no camera with me to take photographs, I was fortunate enough to have my video recorder. This enabled me to film my first encounter with the one Northern Grey Slender Loris in this new trail.

He was excited for the fact that he had discovered a potential habitat for the Loris - in the Jetwing property itself.

The next day he returned to the trail in the hoping to see the Loris again, but luck had run out.

Thereafter I returned on October 22 at around 8 pm and spotted another Loris. It was different from the Loris I had seen on the first night as it had two red eyes, not just one. As it was the second time I had sighted a Loris, I came to the conclusion that Jetwing Vil Uyana was indeed an ideal habitat in which to discover and observe the Northern grey slender Loris.

Chaminda's hopes that the encounter with the Loris will be enough to complete his research about the Loris population in the dry zone. Up to date no research has been done in this area, and this was an ideal habitat for the Loris. Jetwing Vil Uyana can now be listed as an ideal location for Loris watching.

This will certainly be a trail worth exploring while staying at Jetwing Vil Uyana both in the daytime and also at night as there will be birds, butterflies and dragonflies during the day and the Northern grey slender Loris at night!

"I plan to continue observing and learning more of the habits and antics of the grey slender Loris", Chaminda said.

"My aim is to collect as much information as possible; my project report for the Jetwing Research Initiative is due in January 2011 and I hope by then to shed new light on this exotic mammal" said a truly delighted Chaminda.