Zoo Slow Loris Welfare: A Conservation Crisis

Slow lorises are illegally traded as exotic pets, fueled by viral videos of them being tickled. This trade causes immense welfare harm and threatens wild populations.

Key Facts

All eight slow loris species are Critically Endangered or Vulnerable and protected under CITES Appendix I
The viral "tickling" videos show stress responses, not enjoyment — raised arms are a defensive posture
Captured lorises have their teeth removed with nail clippers — without anesthesia — to make them safer as pets
Tooth removal causes severe pain, infection, and makes it impossible for lorises to feed naturally
Slow lorises are the only venomous primates — their bite can cause anaphylactic shock
Even lorises that survive the pet trade cannot typically be reintroduced to the wild

Welfare Considerations

The welfare harm caused by the slow loris pet trade is extreme and multi-stage: traumatic capture from the wild, painful tooth removal, transport stress, and a life in inappropriate captivity that cannot meet their nutritional, social, or behavioral needs. "Rescued" lorises in sanctuaries are nearly always unreleasable due to tooth removal and behavioral abnormalities from captivity. Legitimate zoos with slow lorises focus entirely on conservation education and ex-situ breeding programs, never for pet trade support.

What You Can Do

Never share or positively engage with slow loris "pet" videos online — report them as animal abuse
Report suspected illegal loris trade to TRAFFIC and relevant wildlife authorities
Support the Little Fireface Project and other slow loris conservation organizations
Educate others that slow loris "happiness" in videos is actually distress