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Twenty-four rescued slow lorises arrive safely at IAR's centre in Ciapus

20th November 2009

Looking over one of the rescued slow lorisFollowing the confiscation of several endangered species from a wildlife vendor in East Java, Indonesia, 24 slow loris have been successfully transported to International Animal Rescue’s primate centre in Ciapus, near Bogor. Also confiscated with the slow loris (Nycticebus coucan) were 15 Javan langurs (Trachypithecus auratus), a white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), and a leopard cat (Felis bengalensis). International Animal Rescue operates the only specialised facility for slow lorises in Indonesia and was contacted to provide help for the confiscated animals. Immediately after receiving this news, IAR sent two slow loris keepers to the transit centre where the animals were being kept. They cared for the animals for a week until they could be moved to the rehabilitation centre in Ciapus.

Rescued slow lorisMeanwhile in Ciapus the team was busy with preparations for the arrival of the animals. A new enclosure had to be built since existing facilities could not contain another 24 slow lorises. Paperwork also took up a great deal of time. Finally, on Friday 13 November, the animals were ready to board the plane to Jakarta, with all the papers in order and a medical team awaiting their arrival in Ciapus. The 24 animals were put in 6 boxes and brought to the cargo of the plane. Fortunately, all the administration could be handled without them, so they were brought to the airport an hour in advance. In Jakarta they were picked up at the airport and quickly brought to the rehabilitation centre, arriving at midnight. Although two of them were quite stressed, they all survived the journey. They are healthy and eating well and, as in the transit centre, all 24 slow lorises are sharing one enclosure.

Rescued slow loris receiving veterinary careThe only sad news is that the canines have been removed from all of them, which is routinely done on slow lorises to prevent the animals from biting. However, thankfully, the damage is not too severe and they can be returned to the wild. Although slow lorises without canines can feed normally in captivity, they often face additional challenges that could prohibit successful reintroduction into the wild as they are no longer able to consume preferred food sources such as gum, and cannot engage in the important behaviour of social grooming with the toothcomb. International Animal Rescue is currently hosting a PHD research student in Ciapus who is looking at the viability of reintroducing slow lorises without canines back into the wild.