News 9 Slow Lorises Rescued From Illegal Pet Trade Primates

Sept. 26, 2017 - Officials in West Sumatra, Indonesia, rescued nine slow lorises from being sold on the illegal pet market. All species of slow lorises are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and by local laws in southern Asia. Before being sold, most lorises undergo a painful and potentially fatal procedure to remove their sharp teeth. These nine lorises had not yet had their teeth removed. They are sensitive, nocturnal animals that don't fare well in captivity. The rescued nine will eventually be released into the wild after undergoing rehabilitation. Slow lorises are critically endangered. In addition to the pet trade, they face threats from poaching and habitat loss.