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Today is International Slow Loris Day and I'm pleased to be writing with good news of significant progress from ongoing campaigning and a recent release of eight slow lorises back into the wild!  In 2015, we launched 'Tickling is Torture', our online campaign to expose the truth behind viral videos of slow lorises being kept as pets, which were fuelling the illegal trade.  The campaign video (you can watch it here!) was viewed by millions of people around the world and today, ten years on, we are proud to share that, thanks to the tireless efforts of our partners on the ground, YIARI, the illegal trade of slow lorises as pets has significantly reduced and hundreds of rescued lorises are now living safely in the wild, where they belong. A lot can change in 10 years... |
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A MESSAGE FROM THE FIELD... |
Purbo is the Animal Management Manager at the world's largest slow loris rescue and rehabilitation centre, run by our partners YIARI. Over the past decade, he has dedicated his life to caring for these vulnerable primates. We invited him to reflect on the highs and lows of his work, bringing you closer to the difference your support is making every single day. |
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Dear supporter, For more than a decade, I have been on the journey of both heartbreak and hope that comes with caring for slow lorises. Time and again, I have seen the terrible suffering caused by the illegal pet trade - hundreds of lorises crammed into tiny cages, many with their teeth cruelly clipped, leaving them unable to survive in the wild. Some we couldn’t save, and even those we did, often had no chance of returning to their natural habitat. Yet there have also been moments of immense joy: watching a rescued loris take its first steps back into the forest, seeing it survive, even breed, after such a long and painstaking process of rehabilitation. Slowly, our efforts are making a difference. Today, fewer lorises are being rescued, fewer arrive with clipped teeth, and fewer reports of the illegal trade are reaching us - signs that our holistic approach to conservation is working. Still, the challenges are far from over. Many of the lorises in our care will never go home to the forest, and as they grow older, their needs become even greater. On top of this, electrocutions are claiming countless lives each year, often with fatal consequences. Even so, we remain hopeful. Slow lorises are remarkable creatures and few realise how vital they are: by feeding on gum they help rejuvenate trees, by eating insects they act as natural pest controllers, and by drinking nectar they support pollination. In caring for them, we’re not just protecting one species, but safeguarding the wider environment that supports us all. And perhaps the most rewarding part of this work is what it gives back to us - the chance to learn from the biodiversity around us, to grow, and to stand together for the harmony of nature, knowing that every step forward for the slow loris is also a step forward for our shared future. Thank you for making my work possible. I see every day the impact your donation is having on this truly special species. |
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EIGHT SLOW LORISES RETURN HOME! |
We're delighted to share that eight rehabilitated slow lorises have been released back into the rainforest! Taking place on September 10th, five females - named Banowati, Ipeh, Anoda, Tao-tao and Trevor - and three males - named Bano, Pointer and Agam - were all released within Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) by our Indonesian partners YIARI, in conjunction with the BBKSDA and the Ujung Kulon National Park Authority. These amazing slow lorises have spent time undergoing rehabilitation under YIARI's care, after becoming victims of the illegal wildlife trade, community surrenders or other incidents such as electrocution. |
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Each of these incredible slow lorises have shown amazing resilience to get to where they are now, but some stories stand out. Agam sadly lost a finger due to electrocution, but still shows good mobility, and hasn't let this slow him down! Anoda on the other hand suffered some burns and has a cloudy left eye, though our veterinarians have judged her vision to be functional. These lorises are now ready to thrive in their natural habitat after their rehabilitation, where they learnt all the skills that they'll need for life back in the wild. |
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None of this would have been possible without the generosity of people like you, our amazing supporters - thank you! |
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