The Slow Loris is Cute, but That Doesn’t Mean it Should Be a Pet
Sometimes the world needs a reminder — just because an animal is cute, that doesn’t mean it makes a good pet.
We’ve all seen the ticklish slow loris video on YouTube, I’m sure, and see what charming-looking creatures they are. Unfortunately, that means that the species is now being offered for sale as a pet in Indonesia, despite laws protecting it.
“The openness of the slow loris trade highlights the fact that having one of the region’s best wildlife protection laws and promising to protect species is not enough—there must be stronger enforcement in Indonesia and the public should stop supporting the illegal wildlife trade,” said Chris R. Shepherd, Deputy Regional Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia in a statement.
Sure, it’s tempting to have an adorable creature like a slow loris or a sloth in your home, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Educate the people around you about why we should stick to keeping already domesticated animals as pets, and if you want to do a little extra to help the slow loris, avoid palm oil — non-sustainable plantations are destroying their natural habitats, as well as those of other threatened animals like orangutans and tigers.
Photo by underwhelmer
One Response to “The Slow Loris is Cute, but That Doesn’t Mean it Should Be a Pet”
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Great post, we need to spread the word about this amazing animal, how the pet trade is not only contributing to its endangerment but also to awful abuse. Do watch the excerpt from the BBC documentary “Jungle Gremlins of Java” (“Anna and the Gremlins” in the US, soon to be aired on Animal Planet) on YouTube called “Tickling Slow Loris – the Truth” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF9-Dp3unTU — this animal’s teeth are often scissored /yanked out for trading, as they are venomous, and they don’t do well in captivity, even in the best circumstances, often dying, rarely breeding.