The slow loris is a small nocturnal primate native to South and Southeast Asia. It is also one of the most exploited animals on the internet. Viral videos of pet lorises being "tickled" have driven an underground trade that is pushing every loris species toward extinction.
The problem
- There are eight recognised species of slow loris, and all are protected under CITES Appendix I.
- The slow loris is the only venomous primate in the world — its bite can cause anaphylactic shock in humans.
- To make lorises "safe" as pets, traffickers clip the animals' teeth with nail clippers, without anaesthetic. Many die from infection.
- The "tickling" behaviour shown in viral videos is in fact a defensive posture — the loris raises its arms to access venom glands.
Why they cannot be pets
Lorises are nocturnal, solitary, slow-metabolising specialists. They cannot tolerate bright light, daytime activity, or social handling. A loris kept in a household will typically suffer obesity, metabolic bone disease, severe stress, and dental infection — even with the best intentions. There is no humane way to keep one as a pet.
What WARN is preparing to do
Our Southeast Asia programmes will fund triage, rehabilitation, and soft-release of confiscated lorises in Indonesia and Thailand, along with a public-awareness campaign asking influencers and platforms to stop amplifying loris pet content. We need your help to get this work off the ground.
We need your support to make this happen
World Animal Rescue Network is at the launch stage of this work. We do not yet have rescue numbers to share — and that is exactly why your support matters now. Every donation helps us put trained teams on the ground, secure veterinary supplies and equipment, and reach the first animals before they are lost.
Donate today to fund our first deployments, or sponsor an animal to back a specific species through rehabilitation. You can also join the network as a volunteer, fundraiser, or monthly supporter.
