Wildlife

Slow Loris Trafficking and Captivity

Slow lorises are nocturnal primates driven to the brink of extinction by the illegal pet trade, often subject to tooth removal and cruel conditions.

Key Facts

All eight slow loris species are protected under CITES Appendix I
Their teeth are often clipped or removed before sale to reduce bite risk
Tooth removal causes chronic pain, infection, and inability to eat naturally
Videos of slow lorises being tickled went viral, massively increasing pet demand
They are the only venomous primate, producing venom from a gland in their armpit

Welfare Considerations

Slow lorises in the illegal pet trade experience multiple welfare harms: capture trauma, transport stress, tooth mutilation, inappropriate diet, and social isolation. Tooth removal is often done with nail clippers without anesthesia. Public education about the suffering behind viral wildlife videos is essential to reducing demand driving this trade.

What You Can Do

Never share or like videos of slow lorises or other wildlife in home settings
Report slow loris videos on social media as promoting illegal wildlife trade
Support organizations combating the illegal primate pet trade
Educate others that ticklish slow lorises are showing fear not enjoyment
Donate to slow loris field conservation and rescue programs in Southeast Asia