International Animal Rescue (the IAR) caught some incredibly rare footage of a rescued
baby slow loris who is only a few weeks old. They recently rescued 34 slow lorises from the illegal pet trade, and some of the rescued animals were pregnant. These poor mothers were malnourished and terrified, and most of their babies did not make it – but one did, and we’re happy to report mama and baby are thriving!
Illegal trafficking of slow loris’ is brutal. Poachers pull out the animals’ teeth without any anesthetic and then pack the terrified creatures into tiny crates where they are forced to endure captivity, often next to their dead and dying brothers and sisters. The life of a slow loris as a pet is horrific as well. These animal are nocturnal, so bright lights – like the ones in our homes and zoos – hurt their eyes. There is also a common misconception that the slow loris likes to be tickled – this is not true.
We can all help protect slow lorises and other exotic animals by spreading the word that they belong in the wild, not in your home! You can also help by raising awareness within your community – the next time your friends are laughing at a slow loris getting tickled, explain why this is not cute or funny.
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