Last Sunday, 14 critically endangered slow lorises, destined to be sold illegally as pets, were rescued from a wildlife trafficker in West Java.
The rescue uncovers the devastating plight of these adorable, shy and small nocturnal primates who are, sadly, burdened with a big bounty on their heads in the exotic pet trade.
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The slow lorises, according to International Animal Rescue (IAR), were comprised of six females, seven males and one infant.
The animals were confiscated from horrific conditions, by the Agency for Conservation of Natural Resources, the police of Tasikmalaya, West Java and the Ministry of Law Enforcement for the Environment and Forestry.
Members from IAR in Indonesia provided emergency treatment to the slow lorises; many suffering from the effects of being held captive in what the organization described as “filthy, cramped cages.”
Nur Purba Priambada, IAR’s veterinarian, reported that they were all suffering from dehydration and diarrhea and a few had injuries from fights that probably occurred as a result of the animals being confined so closely together in a small narrow space.
Fortunately, the slow lorises had not been clipped or damaged yet which, according to IAR is “a barbaric practice often inflicted on lorises captured for the pet trade to prevent injury to potential buyers or dealers.” According to the organization, the venomous bite of a loris, can cause humans to experience anaphylactic shock and, in some cases, death.
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“Illegal hunting and trafficking for the pet trade is pushing the slow loris perilously close to extinction. As a result, the Javan slow loris is now classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature),” said Karmele Llano Sanchez, Program Director of IAR Indonesia. “These protected primates are sold each year in seven big markets in four major cities across Indonesia.”
Tragically, she continued, “On average three slow lorises are taken from the wild each day to supply the illegal pet trade and of these, one is likely to die before it is even sold.”
The slow lorises, which are currently being cared for at IAR’s rescue and rehabilitation center near Bogor, West Java, will be released back into the wild once they regain their health, according to the IAR veterinarian.
