Wild Slow Loris: Illegal Pet Trade and Welfare Crisis

Slow lorises are among the most trafficked primates, with their popularity as pets driven by viral videos that mask the extreme welfare suffering of traded individuals.

Key Facts

Slow lorises are nocturnal, venomous primates native to South and Southeast Asian forests
All slow loris species are listed as vulnerable to critically endangered and protected under CITES
Teeth are clipped without anesthesia before sale as pets to prevent venomous bites — a painful mutilation
Slow lorises exposed to light for videos and photographs are experiencing significant welfare harm
They have highly specific dietary and environmental needs that cannot be met in domestic settings

Welfare Considerations

Slow loris welfare in the illegal pet trade is a paradigm case of how social media can inadvertently drive demand for animals whose trading causes extreme suffering. Videos showing lorises being tickled or holding umbrellas appear cute but show animals in inappropriate lighting undergoing significant stress. Before reaching pet buyers, lorises typically have their teeth clipped without pain relief — a mutilation that causes pain, ongoing oral health problems, and removes a key defense mechanism. In captivity, they cannot meet their complex dietary and behavioral needs. Every slow loris sold as a pet represents an individual who has suffered greatly from capture, transport, and mutilation.

What You Can Do

Never share or like social media videos featuring slow lorises in domestic settings
Support Little Fireface Project and other slow loris conservation and rescue organizations
Report social media videos of lorises in captivity to platform moderators as wildlife trafficking content
Advocate for stronger enforcement of wildlife trafficking laws targeting slow loris trade