Biodiversity Conservation

Choose the Correct Answer

Correct Answer : Option b

Explanation
Statement 1 is not correct : Tamil Nadu became the first state in India to notify a slender loris sanctuary in the country. This sanctuary, spread over 11,806 hectares in the Karur and Dindigul districts of the state, will play an important role in the conservation of the primate.

Statement 2 is correct : The slender loris is mostly insectivorous. It eats insects from fields and helps farmers protect their crops. So, protecting their population also has major ecological benefits in controlling the population of harmful insects that otherwise create problems for farmers. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that protected areas are dedicated for maintaining the ecological balance.

Statement 3 is not correct : There are two subspecies of the primate in India — Mysore grey slender loris and Malabar grey slender loris. These are native to India. In Sri Lanka, there is another species, the red slender loris. Malabar Grey Slender Loris is found in the wet, evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. And Mysore Grey Slender Loris is found in the relatively drier regions of southern India. They are mostly found in thorn forests, Euphorbia open forests, croplands close to the forests and mixed deciduous forests. The grey slender loris is found in regions ranging from Kanyakumari to certain parts of Maharashtra. It is found in the western slopes of the Western Ghats. In southwestern parts of India, the Malabar grey slender loris is found in the wet forests of the Western Ghats in the states of Karnataka and Kerala.