Wildlife appeal · Indonesia & Malaysia
Save the slow loris
Made a viral pet, the slow loris is ripped from forests and mutilated for sale. Help fund the partners who rescue, heal and release them.
In brief
Slow lorises are torn from forests and mutilated for the viral pet trade — several species are Endangered and the Javan slow loris is Critically Endangered. UK donors can fund specialist rescue, rehabilitation and release through WARN partners in Indonesia and Malaysia, its in-network focus.
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
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Regular gifts let our partners plan rescues, veterinary care and sanctuary capacity ahead of time. WARN's target is for at least 80% of unrestricted donations to fund programme delivery — grants to partner shelters, sanctuary capacity, veterinary care and rescue across the network.
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Only
Venomous primate on earth
Critically Endangered
Javan slow loris (IUCN)
Endangered
Several other species
2
WARN in-network countries
The slow loris is one of the world's most extraordinary primates — and among the most exploited. Viral videos drive devastating pet-trade demand across Indonesia and Malaysia. Read the slow loris pet trade briefing and rescue guide.
What threats do slow lorises face?
Illegal pet trade
Viral videos showing "cute" slow lorises being tickled fuel massive demand. Lorises are nocturnal, socially complex primates that suffer terribly as daytime pets — most die within months.
All slow loris species CITES Appendix I
Dental mutilation
Traffickers clip out teeth with pliers or nail clippers so buyers are not bitten — the loris's toxic bite is its only defence. This mutilation often causes fatal infection.
Tooth clipping documented in most pet-trade seizures
Habitat loss
Forest clearance across Sumatra and Borneo removes the nocturnal canopy habitat slow lorises depend on. Isolated populations face higher poaching pressure.
Javan slow loris Critically Endangered
Inappropriate diet & lighting
Captive lorises are often fed rice, fruit or human food. Exposure to daylight disrupts their circadian rhythm. Both cause metabolic disease and early death.
Specialist gum and insect diet required in rehab
Release difficulty
Lorises imprinted on humans or with removed teeth cannot return to the wild. Specialist rehab minimises human contact and builds foraging skills over months.
Soft-release requires health screening and post-release monitoring
Pet trade versus specialist rehabilitation
| Factor | Illegal pet trade | WARN-funded rehab |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth | Clipped out with pliers | Dental treatment if needed; teeth preserved for release |
| Diet | Rice, fruit, human food | Gum, insects, nectar — species-appropriate |
| Activity | Daytime handling for videos | Nocturnal routines in naturalistic enclosures |
| Outcome | Most die within months | Release to safe forest where possible |
| Welfare | Extreme stress and suffering | Low-stress, expert care |
Quick slow loris facts
| Venom | Only primate with a toxic bite — allergenic secretion from arm glands |
|---|---|
| Activity | Strictly nocturnal — daylight causes stress |
| Diet | Tree gum, insects, nectar, fruit |
| Pet trade | Viral social media drives illegal demand |
| WARN focus | Indonesia and Malaysia — rescue and release |
| Javan loris | Critically Endangered — among world's rarest primates |
| CITES | Appendix I — all slow loris species |
| What WARN does not fund | Pet trade, contact tourism or unlicensed keeping |
What does WARN fund?
Specialist rescue and rehab — see slow loris wildlife guide and dental mutilation rescue outcomes.
Focus 1
Rescue from the Trade
Funding rescue of slow lorises seized from markets, traffickers and the pet trade.
Focus 2
Specialist Rehabilitation
Expert long-term care these fragile, specialised primates need to recover.
Focus 3
Release Where Possible
Health screening and soft-release so recovered lorises return to safe forest.
Focus 4
Stop the Trafficking
Anti-trafficking work and demand-reduction tackling the trade at source.
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WARN is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation, not a charity, so it cannot claim Gift Aid. The donation case is transparency: low fixed costs and partner-led delivery in the countries where help is needed.