Primates

Slow Loris Illegal Pet Trade and Welfare Crisis

Slow lorises are illegally traded as exotic pets driven by viral social media videos, with devastating welfare consequences including tooth removal and death during transport.

Key Facts

All five slow loris species are protected under CITES Appendix I prohibiting international trade
Pet slow lorises have their teeth clipped or pulled out with wire cutters to prevent bites
Up to 90 percent of slow lorises die before reaching buyers due to stress and injury during transport
Slow lorises are venomous — the raised arm seen in pet videos is a fear response not a gesture of pleasure

Welfare Considerations

The slow loris pet trade causes extraordinary welfare suffering driven by misinformation. Viral videos of lorises raising their arms misrepresent fear responses as cute behavior. The tooth removal that enables handling causes permanent welfare harm from pain and inability to eat properly. The high mortality during transport means many animals die for each one that reaches a buyer. Demand reduction through education is urgently needed.

What You Can Do

Never share or engage positively with social media videos of slow lorises as pets
Report social media slow loris content as potentially documenting illegal wildlife trade
Support organizations working on demand reduction for illegal primate trade
Donate to slow loris conservation and rehabilitation programs in Southeast Asia