What Happened
- The Dindigul district administration in Tamil Nadu has unveiled "Dindu" — an animated slender loris character — as the official mascot for the upcoming local body elections in the district.
- The mascot commemorates the establishment of the Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary, which spans Dindigul and Karur districts of Tamil Nadu and is India's first sanctuary dedicated specifically to the slender loris.
- The choice of the slender loris as a mascot is intended to raise public awareness about the sanctuary and the conservation needs of this endangered nocturnal primate.
- Slender lorises are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — the highest level of legal protection available under Indian law for wild animals.
- The slender loris (genus Loris) is also listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, facing threats from habitat loss, poaching, electrocution on live wires, road accidents, and illegal capture for the pet trade and folk medicine.
- The Kadavur Slender Loris Wildlife Sanctuary, notified by the Tamil Nadu government in October 2022, covers 118.06 km² (approximately 11,806 hectares) across the rocky, scrub-forested terrain of Dindigul and Karur districts.
- Using an election mascot to promote biodiversity awareness reflects a growing practice of leveraging civic events for conservation messaging.
Static Topic Bridges
Slender Loris: Biology, Distribution, and Conservation Status
The slender loris (Loris tardigradus and Loris lydekkerianus) is a small, slow-moving nocturnal primate native to the tropical rainforests and scrub forests of India and Sri Lanka. In India, it is found primarily in the dry deciduous and scrub forests of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Kerala. Unlike the thick-bodied and more widely known slow loris of Southeast Asia, India's slender loris has distinctive spindly limbs and enormous round eyes adapted for night vision. The slender loris is ecologically important as a natural pest controller — it feeds on insects including pests of agricultural crops, making it a friend to farmers in areas where it occurs.
- Species in India: Grey slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus) and red slender loris (Loris tardigradus).
- IUCN status: Endangered.
- Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — attracts the same protection as tigers and elephants; hunting, trapping, or trade is punishable with up to 7 years of imprisonment.
- Primary threats: habitat fragmentation, electrocution (low-hanging live wires in agricultural areas), road kills, poaching for use in traditional medicine and illegal pet trade.
- Diet: insects, small lizards, eggs, plant matter — dietary preferences make them effective bio-pest controllers.
- Nocturnal and arboreal: rarely seen, which contributes to being poorly monitored and under-studied.
Connection to this news: The Kadavur sanctuary was created precisely because Tamil Nadu's Dindigul-Karur scrub forests support one of the last viable populations of the slender loris — the mascot initiative is a direct outreach effort to build community support for the sanctuary.
Kadavur Slender Loris Wildlife Sanctuary: India's First
The Kadavur Slender Loris Wildlife Sanctuary was notified by the Tamil Nadu government in October 2022, making it India's first wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the slender loris. It covers 118.06 km² (11,806 hectares) across the rocky scrub and dry deciduous terrain of Dindigul and Karur districts. The area's landscape — characterised by granite boulders, thorn scrub, and scattered trees — provides ideal nocturnal habitat for the loris, which uses dense foliage for daytime roosting. The sanctuary was a significant step because, unlike better-studied megafauna such as tigers and elephants, the slender loris had no dedicated protected area in India despite being listed under Schedule I.
- Notified: October 2022, Tamil Nadu government.
- Location: Dindigul and Karur districts, Tamil Nadu.
- Area: 118.06 km² (11,806 hectares).
- Distinction: India's first and only sanctuary dedicated to the slender loris.
- Habitat type: Dry deciduous forest and thorn scrub with granite boulder outcrops.
- Announced by: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
- The sanctuary is distinct from a Tiger Reserve or Biosphere Reserve — it is a Wildlife Sanctuary under Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, allowing some regulated human activity (unlike a National Park).
Connection to this news: "Dindu" as an election mascot directly references this sanctuary — the choice reflects both a civic pride element and an attempt to embed loris conservation in public consciousness in the very districts where the sanctuary is located.
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedules and Their Significance
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA) is the foundational law governing the protection of wild animals and plants in India. It classifies species into six Schedules based on their conservation status and the level of protection required. Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II afford the highest legal protection: hunting, poaching, trapping, or trade of such species is a cognizable and non-bailable offence with imprisonment up to 7 years and fine up to ₹25,000 for first conviction (stricter under 2022 amendments). Schedule I animals include tigers, lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, snow leopards, and — as this story highlights — the slender loris. The WPA was significantly amended in 2022 to align with India's obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), adding new provisions for invasive species and reinforcing penalties.
- WPA 1972: 6 Schedules (amended to 4 under the 2022 amendment, merging Schedules I and II, and abolishing Schedule V).
- Schedule I (post-2022 amendment): highest protection, maximum penalties; includes most endangered large mammals and some reptiles and birds.
- Wildlife Sanctuary vs National Park: Sanctuaries (Section 18) allow some regulated private rights; National Parks (Section 35) prohibit private rights and rights-of-way.
- Protected Area network in India: ~900+ protected areas covering ~5.3% of geographic area — includes 108 National Parks, 565 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 100 Conservation Reserves, 220 Community Reserves.
- Project Crocodile, Project Elephant, Project Tiger, Project Snow Leopard, Project Dolphin — species-specific conservation programmes under MoEFCC.
Connection to this news: The slender loris's Schedule I status means any encroachment, poaching, or harm to the Kadavur Sanctuary area carries the same legal gravity as crimes against tigers or elephants — a fact the mascot campaign implicitly communicates to local communities.
Key Facts & Data
- Mascot name: Dindu (animated slender loris character)
- Purpose: Election mascot for Dindigul district local body elections; awareness for Kadavur Sanctuary
- Sanctuary: Kadavur Slender Loris Wildlife Sanctuary — India's first loris sanctuary
- Location: Dindigul and Karur districts, Tamil Nadu
- Area: 118.06 km² (11,806 hectares)
- Notified: October 2022
- Species: Slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus / Loris tardigradus)
- IUCN Status: Endangered
- WPA 1972 Schedule: Schedule I (highest protection)
- Key threats: habitat loss, electrocution, road kills, poaching for medicine and pet trade
- Ecological role: natural pest controller (insectivore)
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office announced the sanctuary's establishment in October 2022