Too cute to live? Save the slow lorises

The little monkey with the big eyes is snatched from its mother. When they are young, they are even cuter and fetch a good price on the black market. The mum is killed by the poachers. She is of no use to them.

Illegal wildlife trade with slow lorises is flourishing. In their homeland Indonesia they are sold at roadsides or markets. Here, a slow loris costs about 25 dollars, via the internet they fetch a price of up to 2,500 dollars.

Due to their cute appearance more and more people like the idea of having a slow loris as a pet. The hype was stirred up by videos circulating in the internet. But this way they are loved to death.

Teeth pulled out brutally, many die

Despite their huge brown eyes and soft fur, slow lorises are in no way suitable as playmates. These small primates possess a rare trait among mammals: a toxic bite. On the inside of their arm a special gland produces a poison that protects them from predators. In the event of danger, they coat their teeth with this poison.

To make believe that they are suitable as pets, merchants use pliers to pinch off or pull out the slow lorises’ teeth. This can lead to harmful infections. Many slow lorises die before they are even sold.

Awareness is very important, especially in Indonesia. Please help to protect the lorises and write to the Indonesian authorities. Demand that they stop the illegal trade with slow lorises immediately! 

Start of campaign: May 29, 2012

Please sign the petition, click the link to help save these sentient beings:–https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/mailalert/875/too-cute-to-live-save-the-slow-lorises

Press Release: Increasing, the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Bird Markets in Java and Bali Islands

(03/14/2012) The illegal wildlife trade occurring in a number of bird (animal/pet) markets in Java and Bali Islands has been likely to increase since early 2012. ProFauna Indonesia’s survey conducted in eight bird markets in the islands between January and February 2012 shows an increase in the number and species of animals being traded. In January 2012, there were more than 41 protected animals sold in the markets While in February, the figure increased to 62 individuals. Likewise, the species also increases. There were 12 species in January 2012 and increased to 15 species in February 2012. 

The eight bird markets surveyed by ProFauna Indonesia included: Splendid market in Malang City; Bratang, Kupang and Turi markets in Surabaya City; Pramuka, Jatinegara, and Barito markets in Jakarta City; andSatria market in Denpasar City. The survey records that the market selling protected animals the most arePramuka and Jatinegara markets in Jakarta and Satria market in Denpasar.

In February 2012, ProFauna team recorded that there were 62 protected animals that are traded in the markets consisting of 15 species: Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus), slow loris (Nycticebus sp), the White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), the black-winged starling (Sturnus melanopterus), the flame-fronted barbet (Megalaima armilaris), the spotted kestrel (Falco moluccensis), Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi), the black eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis), the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the banded pitta (guajana Pitta), and the otter civet (Cynogale bennetti).

For further reading please click this link:-increasing-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-in-bird-markets-in-java-and-bali-islands