Zoo Animal Welfare

Zoo Slow Loris Welfare Assessment

Slow lorises are among the most challenging primates to maintain in good welfare in captivity, with complex dietary, behavioural, and social needs.

Key Facts

Slow lorises are venomous primates that require specialist diets including tree gums and insects
Their venom delivery system is frequently mutilated in the pet trade through tooth removal
Captive lorises show high rates of dental disease, obesity, and reproductive failure
They are nocturnal requiring red-light viewing to avoid disrupting natural activity patterns
International Animal Rescue specialises in loris rehabilitation for confiscated individuals

Welfare Considerations

Slow loris welfare in captivity requires extraordinary expertise due to their specialised dietary needs, nocturnal lifestyle, and complex social behaviour. The challenges of meeting their welfare needs make them unsuitable for general zoo collections and best managed by specialist facilities.

What You Can Do

Support International Animal Rescue's specialist loris welfare and rehabilitation work
Never share or engage with slow loris pet trade videos
Advocate for specialist welfare standards for confiscated slow lorises