W

Wildlife Guide · Indonesia & Vietnam

Slow Loris

Nycticebus spp.

Viral pet videos are fuelling the extinction of the world's only venomous primate.

IUCN: Critically Endangered
Slow loris with large round eyes in a rehabilitation enclosure

In brief

Slow lorises are small nocturnal primates from Southeast Asia; all species are Critically Endangered due to the illegal pet trade, driven in part by viral social media videos.

8

Species — all Critically Endangered

100%

Of pet slow lorises have teeth cut or pulled

~50%

Die during or after tooth removal

26M+

Views on the most viral slow loris pet video

Key Facts: Slow Loris

  • All eight slow loris species are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
  • Before being sold as pets, slow lorises have their teeth cut or pulled out with wire cutters — without anaesthetic — to prevent their venomous bite.
  • Around half of slow lorises die from infection or stress following tooth removal.
  • The sight of a "ticklish" slow loris raising its arms in viral videos actually represents a fear response — it is lifting its arms to access its venom gland.
  • Slow lorises cannot be legally owned as pets in any country — all wild populations are listed on CITES Appendix I.
  • Rehabilitation is possible but extremely difficult due to their specialist diet, solitary nature, and trauma from captivity.

Why Social Media Is Driving Extinction

Videos of slow lorises being "tickled" or held as pets have accumulated hundreds of millions of views across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Many viewers are unaware that the animal's raised arms represent a fear response to threat, not enjoyment. The videos create demand — people want one. To meet that demand, poachers take wild animals from the forest at night, using torches to freeze them (they are blinded by sudden light), then pull their teeth out with wire cutters so they cannot bite. Those that survive reach markets in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The organisations running these markets have become sophisticated at evading enforcement, and the viral cycle continues.

The Venom No One Talks About

Slow lorises are unique among primates in producing venom. The venom is formed by combining a secretion from a brachial gland near the elbow with saliva. It is used both for defence and in mother-infant interactions. The venom of some species can cause anaphylactic shock in humans. This is why all pet slow lorises have their teeth removed — and why the operation, performed without anaesthetic by traders, is so often fatal. A slow loris without teeth is also unable to eat naturally, further compromising its welfare in captivity.

What Happens at a Rescue Centre?

Slow lorises confiscated from markets or surrendered by owners arrive with multiple serious problems: dental mutilation, malnutrition, metabolic bone disease from inadequate diet, severe stress, and sometimes injuries from confinement. Triage involves dental assessment, rehydration, and a carefully controlled reintroduction to natural food — primarily tree gum, nectar, and invertebrates. Animals that cannot be released require lifetime sanctuary care in appropriately sized nocturnal enclosures. Those that recover sufficiently undergo pre-release assessment before soft release into protected forest.

What WARN Does

WARN funds triage and rehabilitation capacity at slow loris rescue centres in Indonesia and Vietnam, supports confiscation response teams, and backs community education programmes aimed at reducing the demand that drives the trade.

Donate to WARN

Slow Loris: Frequently Asked Questions

Are slow lorises venomous?
Yes — slow lorises are the only known venomous primates. They produce venom by combining a secretion from a gland near their elbow with saliva. The venom is used for defence and can cause anaphylactic shock in humans. This is why all slow lorises sold as pets have had their teeth removed — an operation that is performed without anaesthetic and kills around half of all animals subjected to it.
Why do slow lorises raise their arms?
When a slow loris raises its arms, it is not "enjoying being tickled" — it is accessing its venom gland in preparation for a defensive bite. The behaviour shown in viral videos is a fear response to the threat of being handled. The animal's eyes are also frequently described as "cute" when in fact they are wide open because they are being exposed to bright light, which is painful for a nocturnal animal.
Can you keep a slow loris as a pet?
No. All slow loris species are listed on CITES Appendix I, making international trade illegal. National legislation in range countries and in most import countries also prohibits possession. Any slow loris offered for sale has been illegally taken from the wild.
Can rescued slow lorises be returned to the wild?
It depends on the individual. Animals with intact teeth, rescued young, and not excessively habituated to humans have the best chance. Many animals rescued from the pet trade have been held for months or years and have lost critical survival skills. Those that can be released require slow habituation in forest-edge enclosures before any soft release attempt.
How do I report a slow loris video or sale online?
Most major platforms now have policies against wildlife trafficking content. On YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, use the "Report" function and select the wildlife trafficking category. The IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and WWF also have reporting channels for suspected online wildlife trade.

Latest Slow Loris Stories

A Bornean orangutan in the forest canopy — one of fewer than 104,700 estimated to remain in the wild

Species

Why Are Orangutans Endangered? Palm Oil, Deforestation and the Rescue Crisis in Borneo
Intact Borneo rainforest — rapidly disappearing under the pressure of palm-oil expansion and illegal logging

Briefings

Borneo Deforestation and Palm Oil: The Wildlife Crisis in the World's Third Largest Island
A sea turtle swimming near floating plastic debris in tropical waters

Briefings

Indonesia's Plastic Tide: How Marine Waste Is Killing Whales, Turtles and Dugongs

Explore More Species

Every animal in our network faces a crisis. Learn about the others.

View all wildlife guides