[29], Humans have been hunting mammals in Asia for at least 40,000 years,[20] but until recently, slow lorises were only hunted at a sustainable level. [33] For international trade, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand were the biggest exporters,[43] with exports having declined for all species except the pygmy slow loris from 1998 to 2007 (compared to 1978–1997). 9. Javanese Slow Loris Population is Declining at an Alarming Rate (mongabay) [39] As a result, Cambodia proposed that slow lorises be elevated to Appendix I,[13] which prohibits species from being traded internationally for commercial purposes and requires both import and export permits for certain types of non-commercial trade, such as scientific research. China and Indonesia were also known for international trade, although their local trade was more significant. [53], Within their countries of origin, slow lorises are very popular exotic pets. Oral traditions suggest these practices go back even further. Its big brown eyes and soft fur make this small, nocturnal primate highly prized as a pet and the victim of an online craze created by videos on YouTube. [38] During the same time period, Thai, Indonesian, and Singaporean officials discovered 358 lorises destined for Japan. 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. [29] Similarly, villagers concerned about traffic safety might bury a slow loris under a road to prevent accidents. [47] As many as 95% of the slow lorises rescued from the markets die of dental infection or improper care. (2010) showed that these belief systems were so strong that the majority of respondents expressed reluctance to consider alternatives to loris-based medicines. Official, legal trade of slow lorises prior to CITES Appendix I coverage (from 1998 to 2006) was limited to just ten Sunda slow lorises from Malaysia and Myanmar. Pygmy slow lorises are opportunistic feeder… 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. [22] To give the impression that the primates are tame and appropriate pets for children,[46] to protect people from their potentially toxic bite,[17] or to deceive buyers into thinking the animal is a baby,[22] animal dealers either pull the front teeth with pliers or wire cutters or they cut them off with nail cutters. 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). The most noteworthy importer was Japan, followed by the United States and then the European Union. [18][33] Slow lorises are the most commonly sold protected primate at these markets. Connectivity between protected areas is important for slow lorises because they are not adapted to dispersing across the ground over large distances. 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. [20][22][29] One bottle of wine is made by mixing rice wine with the carcasses of three dead animals. [34], International trade usually results in a high mortality rate during transit, between 30% and 90%. Nekaris requested that YouTube remove the videos, but the UK-based newspaper, The Independent, reported that YouTube declined to comment on the slow loris videos. [16], Middlemen buy as many as 30 slow lorises from rural hunters over a wide area, and then sell them in the major city markets for 300,000 to 500,000 rupiahs (US$32 to US$54) each. 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. [30] In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was reported that the people from the interior of the island of Borneo believed that slow lorises were the gatekeepers for the heavens and that each person had a personal slow loris waiting for them in the afterlife. The fur is reported to heal wounds, the flesh to cure epilepsy, eyes are used in love potions, and the meat is reported to cure asthma and stomach problems. These problems have grown so severe that the three new species of Slow Loris discovered in December 2012 have already been put on the IUCN Red List. Protected area extensions are also needed in Borneo, Java, and Sumatra. Slow lorises (genus Nycticebus) are primates that belong to the suborder Strepsirrhini. This means that they are unable to grip and swing from branches like the new world monkeys with prehensile tails. [15], Despite being included in CITES Appendix I protection and covered by local conservation laws, slow lorises are still threatened by both local and international trade because of problems with enforcement. [18] During the late 2000s, Sunda slow lorises were regularly sold throughout the Medan bird market in North Sumatra. [18][31][34] This results in severe bleeding, which sometimes causes shock or death,[31] and frequently leads to dental infection, which is fatal in 90% of all cases. Slow lorises are sometimes mixed in with other trade-restricted species, such as reptiles,[38] and since confiscations target high-profile species, it is likely that the international smuggling numbers are "just the tip of the iceberg. Slow Loris Facts: 6-10. But as more and more tourists have come to this realization, the trend of selfies with the small primates has meant disaster for the slow loris population. [12] In 2011, the International Species Information System (ISIS) had only 11 and 53 specimens (respectively) on file from reporting zoos worldwide. 26 did not. Just 10% of the forest is left on Java, the main island in Indonesia, which has resulted in a massive decline in the slow loris population there. Lost% s. In Vietnam, only 30% of the mainland remains due to fore… We found that 33% of females and 57% of males exhibited at least one wound. [26] However, hunting pressure since the 1960s has become increasingly unsustainable, leading to overexploitation, because of growing demand, decreased supply, and the subsequent increased value of the marketed wildlife. [47] Numerous illegal trade routes for each species were also documented prior to the 2007 CITES vote over Appendix I coverage in the Notification to Parties publication. Pygmy slow lorises are doing better, with 100 specimens reported from zoos worldwide in 2011. The wife of another law enforcement official from the Mondulkiri Province in Cambodia is one of the most notable sellers of slow loris parts. The Slow Loris is curious among primates as it has only a vestigial tail. Distribution of the pygmy loris is predominantly the evergreen forests of Vietnam and Laos. Infection, stress, pneumonia, and poor nutrition lead to high death rates among pet lorises. [26] Slow lorises are abundant at the markets[27] and are among the most commonly sold primates. Pygmy Loris. [14] Habitat fragmentation obstructs biological dispersal for these species that rely on vines and lianas to move from tree to tree. reported that Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand were the primary exporters of slow lorises, with Singapore and Malaysia also involved. We captured 82 slow loris individuals, including 40 females and 42 males, 338 times (167 females and 171 males; for more details see experimental procedures in Supplemental Information, published with this article online). [26], In Cambodia, the deeply rooted tradition of using the Bengal and pygmy slow lorises in traditional medicine is widespread,[43] and the pygmy slow loris is the most commonly requested animal in traditional medicine shops in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. The primary users of this traditional medicine are urban, middle-aged women who are reluctant to consider alternatives. [17] During a study by Nekaris et al. [29] In Indonesia, slow lorises are worth more alive, so hunters climb the tree to reach them and place a V-shaped stick around their neck to immobilize them. £o“ïÚÒò endstream endobj 86 0 obj <. The pale red to golden fur of the loris easily distinguishes it from the rest of the slow loris species. Training for enforcement officials helps improve identification and the awareness of their legal protection. The pygmy slow loris is heavily exploited for traditional “medicine” as well as for the pet trade; it is also used as a food source in some areas of its native range. Slow lorises are nocturnal strepsirrhine primates in the genus Nycticebus that live in the rainforests of South and Southeast Asia. As with many nocturnal prosimian species, little is known about its behavior or ecology; even less information is available on its distribution and population status in … Each of the slow loris species identified before 2012 is listed in the IUCN Red list as “weak” or “endangered.” The three new species have not yet been evaluated, but they are (and are, to some extent, reduced) considered to be single “vulnerable” species. Although pet shop employees declare that their slow lorises are captive-bred, the advertisements on the pet store websites indicate that their stocks come from Java, Sumatra, or China. The California Department of Fish and Game in San Francisco found 15 slow lorises in a bag labeled "spitting cobras" in a shipment from Thailand that also contained snakes, tortoises, and otters. [2] Their hands and feet are strong and good at grasping for long periods of time. More than half of 400 illegal imports were live animals (238), while the rest were either body parts (122) or unspecified (40). All of the slow loris are under threat of wildlife business and habitat loss. [22] Minority groups in Cambodia also use loris-based medicine for treating broken bones, asthma, and sexually transmitted diseases. [57] In North American zoos, for instance, the population has grown to 74 animals between the time they were imported in the late 1980s and 2008, with most of them born at the San Diego Zoo. [23] These estimates indicated that the Javan slow loris was the most threatened by habitat loss, followed by the Sunda slow loris from Sumatra. Many were stressed, malnourished, dehydrated and suffering dental issues. [20] In 1985, large wildlife markets began to appear in Phnom Penh and Sen Monorom, Cambodia, followed quickly by the development of networks of hunters, traders, and middlemen. s’즉äuQíWJóÃkJ1mŽõÉÜöeÏvŠ}ü˜Y¸2N[ÓW ðÀcÌïÇ°ªYaN9,ÕS¥8}æžbh]bf‘=Êq Western tourists and expatriates pay as much as 1,000,000 rupiahs (US$108). Signs of an inappropriate diet in captivity include tooth decay, diabetes, obesity, and kidney failure. Even the best breeding facilities have great difficulty breeding lorises, and those that do often have difficulty keeping them alive. Their habitat is ra… In the province of North Sumatra, the slow loris is thought to bring good luck if it is buried under the foundation of a house. The different Slow Loris species are as follows: greater, pygmy, Philippine, Kayan River, Bengal, Bornean, Mangka, and Javan Slow Loris. [13][33] The lack of legal trade reported to the CITES Secretariat is shown in the CITES trade database, where minimal trade by CITES Parties has been reported up until 2007. The Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis is a li le-studied primate native to Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. They can live in altitudes up to 1300 meters. [29], In the Mondulkiri Province of Cambodia, hunters believe that lorises can heal their own broken bones immediately after falling from a branch in order to climb back up the tree, and that slow lorises have medicinal powers because they require more than one hit with a stick to die. [18] The diets of wild slow lorises are poorly understood. During the lifetime of the video two significant slow loris conservation-associated events occurred, the March 2011 posting of this Wikipedia article and the January 2012 airing of a BBC television production entitled Jungle Gremlins of Java;[52] both events were associated with a spike in viewership of the video, and were often mentioned in the comments made during those periods (3.2% and 13.3%, respectively). It is possible the species also occurs on Belitung, but no records are available. Instead, most only received fines. [42] In Phnom Penh, Cambodia during the 1990s, observers counted up to 204 slow lorises for sale at a single store; in 2007 a market in Mondulkiri Province displayed 30 dried specimens. [8] The Sunda slow loris is found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra as well as Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. [34] Indonesian species are mostly sold as pets, despite myths about their magical and curative properties. Äóô ºì"†.6b'‡D! The Details. [22][47] Smuggling and trade in Poland and Russia are also common according to Nekaris. [33] The deaths are not unusual, with a mortality rate of 76% for all species of confiscated slow lorises, many dying before they are transferred to zoos. It is so easy to get access to wild-caught lorises, it is highly doubtful that a seller who claims to have captive-bred ones is telling the truth. [18][46] The slow lorises found in animal markets are usually underweight and malnourished, and have had their fur dyed, which complicates species identification at rescue centers. [17][41] Lastly, increased access to new technologies, such as improved transport, guns, wire snares, and spotlights, have facilitated hunting and pushed extraction levels beyond the point of sustainability. Throughout its geographical range, slow loris are declining drastically. Nycticebus coucang is located in southeastern Asia, across India and the Philippines, and extends through parts of Indonesia. Today this species’ numbers are decreasing and currently it is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. 66. [34] Even law enforcement is involved in the trade, with park rangers and police admitting to the purchase of slow lorises for medicinal purposes. Little is known about the current population size of the Javan Slow Loris, but we do know that they are suffering catastrophic poaching. Little is known about the social structure of slow lorises, but they generally spend most of the night foraging alone. Slow lorises are commonly dried and sold (top), and then later prepared for specific uses, such as loris ointment (bottom). 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. This female Nycticebus bengalensis was photographed in 2014 at the Endangered Primate Rescue Center, located in a national park in northern Vietnam. The animal is a nocturnal feeder, preferring to search for all of its food items under cover of night. Connectivity between protected areas is important for slow lorises because they are not adapted to dispersing across the ground over large distances. [11], Slow lorises are threatened by deforestation and the wildlife trade, which includes the exotic pet trade, traditional medicine, and bushmeat. [39][56], Populations of slow loris species, such as the Bengal and Sunda slow loris, are not faring well in zoos. All four are expected to be listed at least simultaneously, if not high-risk, conservation status. New arrivals to the stores are also variable in size and age, which has further led the JWCS to suspect the slow lorises are imported illegally. Slow lorises also experience many health problems as a result of both local and international trade. [42], Slow lorises are commonly used in traditional medicine across their geographic range, a practice that has been reported since at least 1900. [46], Primatologist Anna Nekaris, in 2009 discussing the misleading information posted on YouTube. The population density of the Javan slow loris is very low. [17][29][34] In the Mondulkiri Province in Cambodia, slow lorises are shaken out of trees and then bludgeoned to death with a stick. Slow lorises are slow and deliberate climbers and rarely come to the ground. A Javan slow loris rescued by International Animal Rescue (IAR) in 2016. [48], Slow lorises are sold locally at street markets, but are also sold internationally over the Internet and in pet stores. The Philippine slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) is found in the Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, and Borneo, Indonesia.It is one of the smallest species of slow loris and weighs only 265 to 300 kg. The slow loris rescue centre’s population in Bogor exploded. Most vendors (80%) surveyed in 2010 attributed the price increases to a decline in loris numbers and increased enforcement. 2. [18] Traders have reported to researchers that they have difficulty keeping pace with demand, and one trader claimed to have sold nearly 1,200 pygmy slow lorises during 2001–2002. Although the proposal was adopted by consensus,[33] some conservation groups objected on the grounds that rational analysis was being usurped by sentiment. Population Status. [43] They are seen as a "living toy" for children by local people or are bought out of pity (to save the animals) by Western tourists or expatriates. This regulation was clarified in 1999 with Government Regulation No. [29] In Indonesia, nearly 6,000 to 7,000 slow lorises were traded domestically each year from 2000 to 2006. [54], Since the late 1990s, both high demand and resulting high prices have fueled increased smuggling of slow lorises to Japan. They are capable of moving faster than slow lorises. [14] Slow lorises are also smuggled to China, Taiwan, Europe, and Saudi Arabia for use as pets. [15], All species are listed either as "Vulnerable" or "Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). [38], In Japan, enforcement is not considered very strict since only 23% of smugglers (9 out of 39 cases) were officially charged between 1998 and 2006. All newly identified species were covered by Appendix II on 2 April 1977[35] when all primates were given either Appendix I or Appendix II protection. 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