Wild Slow Loris Welfare: The Illegal Pet Trade Crisis

Slow lorises are targeted by the illegal pet trade partly due to viral social media videos, causing immense individual suffering and significant conservation harm to all five endangered species.

Key Facts

All five slow loris species are Critically Endangered or Endangered and protected under CITES
Slow lorises have the only toxic bite of any primate, producing secretion mixed with saliva
Pet lorises have their teeth cut or pulled without anesthesia to prevent biting, causing chronic pain
Videos showing lorises being tickled and appearing to smile actually show fear-immobility responses
Transport mortality in the illegal pet trade is extremely high
Little Fireface Project and Anna Nekaris lead conservation and rehabilitation efforts

Welfare Considerations

Slow loris welfare in the pet trade involves extreme cruelty at every stage. Wild-caught individuals are transported under highly stressful conditions with high mortality. Those that survive have their teeth removed or cut without pain relief to prevent their toxic bite — a procedure that leaves them susceptible to infection, unable to eat normally, and in chronic pain. The apparent cute behavior in social media videos is fear-induced immobility, not enjoyment. Every share or like of a slow loris video drives demand that funds this cruelty. Refusing to share slow loris content is a direct welfare action.

What You Can Do

Never share slow loris videos from social media — sharing drives demand that funds the pet trade
Donate to Little Fireface Project working on slow loris conservation and anti-trade enforcement
Report slow loris content on social media platforms using wildlife trafficking report functions
Support demand reduction campaigns targeting slow loris and other illegal primate pet trade markets