When the Forest Stares Back

A nocturnal trail in Sri Lanka's Sigiriya shows how humans can coexist with wildlife

- By KUNAL BHATIA AND SHUVAJIT PAYNE

Slender Loris Sigiriya Forest

Deep in Sri Lanka's Sigiriya forest, a small group treads cautiously over rustling leaves, with their head lamps casting narrow red beams in the darkness. Suddenly, the group freezes. The anticipation is palpable. Two bright eyes flash in the glow. It's not a predator, but a pint-sized creature staring back with quiet curiosity.

The grey slender loris, a shy, nocturnal, wet-nosed primate endemic to the tropical forests of Sri Lanka and southern India, reveals itself. Declared 'Near Threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2004, the rare primate has lost a quarter of its population to deforestation, illegal trade and hunting for superstitious rituals.