The illegal pet trade remains one of the slow lorises’ greatest threats. This critically endangered species is poached from the wild and sold in animal markets or online, often subjected to extreme cruelty, including the brutal removal of their teeth with clippers.
Yet, there is a glimmer of hope.
International Animal Rescue, and our partner, YIARI, have been working tirelessly for more than 15 years to protect this remarkable species. A new report by YIARI documents over a decade of conservation efforts in Indonesia, and there is some encouraging news.
Out of the Shadows: Exposing and Opposing Indonesia’s Illegal Slow Loris Trade shows that trafficking has declined thanks to a holistic approach combining law enforcement, the establishment of rescue centres, and sustained public education.
Crucially, the report confirms that this decline did not happen by chance. Between 2012 and 2022, 111 law enforcement cases were recorded, resulting in the seizure of 1,271 slow lorises. More than half led to the detention and sentencing of suspects, demonstrating the significant role of strong law enforcement in reducing open trade.
Beyond enforcement, the report highlights the importance of properly managing confiscated animals. Between 2008 and 2022, YIARI received 1,342 slow lorises at its rescue centre. This facility plays a vital role in conservation, providing medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term support for confiscated, surrendered, and rescued animals.
Dr Karmele Sanchez, CEO of YIARI, emphasised the importance of this work:
“YIARI was born out of the urgent need to save slow lorises, animals that are victims of poaching, trafficking, and illegal captivity. From the beginning, we recognised that rescue efforts alone are not enough. If the root causes are not addressed, the cycle will continue, and rehabilitation centres will become mere shelters. Therefore, we developed a holistic conservation approach.
It begins with three key stages: rescue, rehabilitation and release. These three processes are not just a response to wildlife crime, but also the foundation for ensuring rescued individuals can return to the wild safely and responsibly. However, these efforts do not stop there. Our approach is strengthened through law enforcement, education, and public awareness. Only by combining all these elements can we truly break the chain of wildlife crime and protect slow lorises in their natural habitat.”
Shifting public perception has also been key. Between 2012 and 2022, 1,866 news articles about slow lorises were recorded, including 621 focused on law enforcement and 1,245 on rescue, translocation and education.
Social media trends show a dramatic change. In 2015, 90% of Instagram posts featuring slow lorises portrayed them as pets or promoted trade. By 2022, 97% of posts were positive and informative, with harmful content dropping to just 3%. This shift highlights the power of education in transforming how the public views slow lorises — from exotic pets to protected wild animals.
Silverius Oscar Unggul, Chair of YIARI and Principal Advisor to the Indonesian Minister of Forestry, stressed the importance of the report as a catalyst for action:
“The illegal slow loris trade cannot be tackled with a single approach. This report shows that real change happens when law enforcement, animal rescue, public education, and cross-sector collaboration work together. We hope these findings will not remain as documentation alone, but serve as a shared foundation for strengthening policy, enforcement, and public awareness in protecting slow lorises in Indonesia.”
YIARI and International Animal Rescue aim to share these findings widely and spark broader dialogue across Indonesia and globally, helping to further reduce illegal trade and improve outcomes for this extraordinary species.
We are deeply grateful to all the donors and supporters who make this work possible. None of this would be achieved without you.
Read the full report here: https://yiari.or.id/publikasi/out-of-the-shadows-exposing-and-opposing-indonesias-illegal-slow-loris-trade/