Conservation management of the nocturnal primates in Asia
Slow lorises, such as this Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) were once considered common, but are now recognized as threatened species.
Slow lorises are nocturnal strepsirrhine primates in the genus Nycticebus that live in the rainforests of South and Southeast Asia. They are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation from deforestation, selective logging, and slash-and-burn agriculture, as well as by collection and hunting for the wildlife trade, including the exotic pet trade, and for use in traditional medicine and as bushmeat. Because of these and other threats, all five species of slow loris are listed as either "Vulnerable" or "Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their conservation status was originally listed as "Least Concern" in 2000 because of imprecise population surveys and the frequency in which these primates were found in animal markets. Because of their rapidly declining populations and local extinctions, their status was updated and in 2007 the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) elevated them to Appendix I, which prohibits international commercial trade. Local laws also protect slow lorises from hunting and trade, but enforcement is lacking in most areas.
Traditional beliefs regarding slow lorises have been part of the folklore of Southeast Asia for at least several hundred years. Their remains are buried under houses and roads to bring good luck, and every part of their body is used in traditional medicine to make products ranging from love potions to unproven cures for cancer, leprosy, epilepsy, and sexually transmitted diseases. The primary users of this traditional medicine are urban, middle-aged women who are reluctant to consider alternatives.
Despite being poor pets that are difficult to care for, with a dangerous toxic bite[1] and a sleep cycle opposite to that of humans, a large number of slow lorises are traded as pets, both locally and internationally. Although it is illegal to import slow lorises for commercial sale, they are popular exotic pets in their native range, Japan and parts of Europe. This is mainly because of their "cute" appearance, popularized in highly viewed YouTube videos, which is due in part to their large eyes, adaptations to a nocturnal lifestyle. Hundreds of slow lorises have been confiscated at airports, but because they are easy to hide, these numbers are likely to be only a small fraction of the total number being trafficked. Traders cut or pull the teeth of slow lorises to make them appear to be an appropriate pet for small children, but this practice often leads to extreme blood loss, infection, and death. Slow lorises lacking their teeth would be unable to fend for themselves and therefore are not reintroduced into the wild. Most captive lorises in the pet trade also receive improper care and die from poor nutrition, stress, or infection. Despite this, demand has risen, and slow lorises are no longer captured opportunistically, but are now hunted on a commercial scale using flashlights, from which the animals do not flee.
Connected protected areas are important for the conservation of slow lorises because these primates are not adapted to travel long distances on the ground. Training for enforcement officials helps improve identification and the awareness of their legal protection. Sanctuaries and rescue facilities are available to provide both temporary and lifelong care for confiscated slow lorises. Zoo populations of some species have not bred much and have grown too old to reproduce, although the pygmy slow loris is doing well at some facilities, such as the San Diego Zoo.
^Nekaris et al. 2013.
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Slowlorises are nocturnal strepsirrhine primates in the genus Nycticebus that live in the rainforests of South and Southeast Asia. They are threatened...
Slowlorises are a group of several species of nocturnal strepsirrhine primates that make up the genus Nycticebus. Found in Southeast Asia and bordering...
it is one of the smallest of the slowlorises, and can be distinguished from other slowlorises by its pale golden to red fur, the lack of markings on...
a head-body length of about 293 mm (11.5 in). Like all lorises, it is arboreal and moves slowly across vines and lianas instead of jumping from tree to...
tail and weighing between 1 and 2.1 kg (2.2 and 4.6 lb). Like other slowlorises, it has a wet nose (rhinarium), a round head, flat face, large eyes,...
features, as well as the shape and width of the stripes of its facial markings. As with other slowlorises, this arboreal and nocturnal species primarily...
features, as well as the shape and width of the stripes of its facial markings. As with other slowlorises, this arboreal and nocturnal species primarily...
the Kayan River, which runs through its native habitat. As with other slowlorises, this arboreal and nocturnal species primarily eats insects, tree gum...
Sunda slowlorises, the red slender loris, and the Rondo dwarf galago. A further two species are categorized as critically endangered: the Bangka slow loris...
Sri Lanka and India. Slender lorises spend most of their life in trees, traveling along the tops of branches with slow and precise movements. They are...
"Tickled to Death: Analysing Public Perceptions of 'Cute' Videos of Threatened Species (SlowLorises – Nycticebus SPP.) on Web 2.0 Sites". PLOS ONE. 8...
area and sleeping arrangements are the only social behaviour lorises take part in. Lorises are found to be promiscuous, multiple males competing for one...
three cases ofslowlorises eaten by Sumatran orangutan, a maximum mean feeding rate of the adult orangutan for an entire adult male slow loris is 160...
of Madagascar, galagos ("bushbabies") and pottos from Africa, and the lorises from India and southeast Asia. Collectively they are referred to as strepsirrhines...
"Survey of practitioners handling slowlorises (Primates: Nycticebus): an assessment of the harmful effects ofslow loris bites – Journal of Venom Research"...
food. It has a dark face mask with central pale stripe, much like the slowlorises. L. tardigradus tardigradus is reddish brown in the back and creamy yellow...
include bark, honey, bird eggs, insects and small vertebrates including slowlorises.: 65–66 In some areas, orangutans may practise geophagy, which involves...
The Sumatran slow loris (Nycticebus hilleri) is a strepsirrhine primate and a species ofslow loris that is native to Sumatra. While this species used...
occasions, orangutans will prey upon other, smaller primates, such as slowlorises. Males and females generally come together only to mate. Subadult males...
ISBN 978-0-19-517133-4. Wiens, Frank (2002). Behavior and ecology of wild slowlorises (Nycticebus coucang): social organization, infant care system, and...
Cynocephalus volans). Although the term lemur was first intended for slender lorises, it was soon limited to the endemic Malagasy primates, which have been...
captivity. The rescue centre on the island of Java has facilities for the treatment and care of macaques and slowlorises. In 1998 International Animal Rescue...
released many important species of Cambodian wildlife, including rare mammals such as Asian palm civets, Bengal slowlorises, Germain's langurs, leopard cats...
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