Zoo Animals

Zoo Slow Loris Welfare and Trade Prevention

Slow lorises are illegally traded as pets, and zoo programmes must navigate welfare alongside their role in combating the trade that has devastated wild populations.

Key Facts

Slow lorises are the only venomous primates, with a toxic bite produced from brachial gland secretion
Tooth clipping to make them safe as pets causes severe pain and infection risk
Slow loris viral videos have driven demand for pets and caused population decline
They are solitary nocturnal animals requiring very different care to diurnal primates
The International Animal Rescue runs the Slow Loris Rehabilitation Centre in Sumatra

Welfare Considerations

Slow lorises confiscated from the illegal trade carry trauma from tooth clipping, improper diet, and handling stress. Rehabilitation is challenging and release success limited. Prevention of trade through education and enforcement is a higher welfare priority than rehabilitation.

What You Can Do

Never share or like slow loris pet videos on social media
Report suspected slow loris trade to wildlife crime authorities
Support International Animal Rescue's rehabilitation work
Learn about slow loris ecology and why they cannot be pets