The slow loris, a small nocturnal primate native to South and Southeast Asia, is instantly recognizable by its large, forward-facing eyes and characteristically deliberate movements. Found across a wide range of habitats, from rainforests to mangroves, these animals play a subtle but important role in their ecosystems. However, all species of the slow loris face an accelerating threat of extinction. The core issue is that every species within this genus is now officially classified as threatened, driven primarily by human activities.
Defining the Species and Official Status
The term “slow loris” refers to the genus, Nycticebus, which contains multiple distinct species whose threat level varies based on geographic isolation and population size. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species provides the official conservation status, ranging from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. For example, the Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) is Endangered, while the Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus) is Critically Endangered, having suffered a population reduction estimated to be over 80% in the last 24 years. Other species, including the Bornean and Kayan slow lorises, are listed as Vulnerable. These classifications confirm that every known slow loris species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Primary Drivers of Population Decline
One widespread pressure on slow loris survival is the destruction and fragmentation of their native forest habitats. This is a direct consequence of large-scale human expansion, with vast tracts of tropical forest being cleared for agricultural purposes. The expansion of monoculture crops, such as palm oil plantations and rice paddies, removes the dense canopy cover these strictly arboreal primates require for safe movement and foraging.
Habitat fragmentation is particularly damaging because slow lorises move slowly and avoid descending to the ground, making it difficult for them to cross cleared areas. This isolation reduces genetic diversity and increases the likelihood of localized extinctions. Beyond habitat loss, slow lorises are also hunted and traded for use in traditional medicine across their range. They are captured due to traditional beliefs that their body parts can be used to create remedies for various ailments, including tonics for healing wounds or regaining strength after childbirth. This practice contributes to the unsustainable removal of lorises from the wild, compounding the damage caused by habitat loss.
The Unique Threat of the Illegal Pet Trade
The illegal pet trade is the most immediate and cruel threat to slow loris populations, driven largely by their distinctive appearance. Viral videos on social media platforms depicting lorises as “cute” pets have significantly fueled international demand. Since these animals are nocturnal, filming them in bright daylight causes visible distress due to their specialized night vision.
Slow lorises are the world’s only venomous primates, possessing a gland on their inner arm that secretes a toxin they mix with saliva. To make the animals safe for handling and sale, traders brutally remove their teeth before sale. This procedure is performed without anesthesia, often using crude tools, and frequently results in massive blood loss, infection, or death.
This mutilation severely compromises the animal’s ability to survive, even if confiscated. Many confiscated lorises cannot be released back into the wild because they lack the teeth necessary to groom, feed on their natural diet, or defend themselves. Captive lorises rarely survive long due to improper care, poor nutrition, and stress, leading poachers to constantly replenish the supply by taking more animals from the wild.
Global and Local Conservation Responses
In response to the accelerating threats, all slow loris species are afforded the highest level of international trade protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In 2007, all species were transferred to CITES Appendix I, a listing that effectively prohibits all commercial international trade. This move recognizes the global nature of the crisis and attempts to shut down the overseas demand for pets and traditional medicine ingredients.
Despite this legal protection, enforcement remains a significant challenge, as lorises are still openly traded in local animal markets across Southeast Asia. Consequently, local conservation efforts focus on rescue, rehabilitation, and education. Organizations in countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam operate rescue centers to treat and care for animals confiscated from the illegal trade. Community education programs work to reduce local demand for loris products and raise awareness about the species’ protected status. The public can support these efforts by avoiding viral videos that glorify slow lorises as pets and supporting reputable conservation organizations.