Zoo Slow Loris Protection from Illegal Trade

Slow lorises are highly threatened by illegal pet trade driven by online videos. Understanding their welfare needs and conservation status helps combat this damaging trade.

Key Facts

All slow loris species are listed on CITES Appendix I prohibiting commercial international trade
Slow lorises have a venomous bite produced by mixing brachial gland secretion with saliva
Teeth are routinely clipped for pet trade making animals unable to feed normally or defend themselves
Viral videos of slow lorises being tickled show stressed animals displaying the defensive raised-arm venom posture
The pet trade is the primary driver of slow loris population declines across Southeast Asia

Welfare Considerations

Pet slow lorises suffer profoundly from tooth removal, inappropriate diet, solitary housing and inability to express natural nocturnal behaviors. The tickling videos that spread their popularity online depict severely stressed animals responding to a threatening stimulus rather than enjoying interaction. Supporting this trade by sharing such videos or expressing desire for a loris pet directly contributes to animal suffering.

What You Can Do

Never share or engage positively with videos of slow lorises being kept as pets or tickled
Report slow loris illegal trade listings on social media and e-commerce platforms to authorities
Donate to organizations investigating and prosecuting slow loris trade networks
Support habitat conservation in Southeast Asia protecting wild slow loris populations
Educate others that slow loris videos depict suffering rather than happiness