Mangaluru: Officials of the Pilikula Zoo are treating a badly injured Malabar Slender Loris (Loris lyddekerianus malabaricus) thought to have been used for doing black magic still commonly practiced in parts of Karnataka.
Rescued by the Uttar Kannada forest department, the eight to 10- year- old animal has a completely necrosed left and a partially damaged right fore limb. “It cannot hold its prey or food, making it difficult for it to feed on its own,” said Pilikula Biological Park director, H. Jayaprakash Bhandary in a press statement.
Pointing out that the Loris, found in evergreen, deciduous and scrub jungles of South India, was a delicate primate and critically endangered, he said those who practiced witchcraft often used it as a “medium” to cause harm to the enemy. “They pierce a live Loris with pins and sometimes inflict wounds on its body in the hope of doing similar injury to those they want harmed,” he explained.
“The animal is under vet care at the zoo hospital and is being treated with antibiotics. As both its forelimbs are damaged, we are hand- feeding it. Its condition is serious but it is responding to medicine. Amputation of the limbs will be done once the animal stabilises,” the officer added.
