Slow loris trade in Indonesia under scrutiny

Paul Eccleston, The Telegraph 22 Dec 07;

Their enormous round eyes and cuddly coats make the Slow loris one of the world's most appealing animals. Unfortunately the same characteristics make it a prime target for poachers who sell the small and vulnerable creature as 'pets'.

The UK animal charity International Animal Rescue (IAR), probably best known for rescuing dancing bears in India, has been investigating the loris trade in Indonesia.

They have just built a new rescue centre on the island of Java which they will use for the rehabilitation of wild animals captured for the pet trade before they are released back into safer areas.

During a trip to Indonesia in November the charity's investigators took shocking photos at an animal market in Jakarta. The images show a terrified slow loris having its teeth cut down with nail clippers to prevent it from using its bite to defend itself.

This is standard practice in Indonesia before putting lorises up for sale for about £10 each and many of them die from the trauma or from septicaemia within days of capture.

Five slow lorises were found in tiny rusting cages behind the scenes at the market. Naturally shy and nocturnal, the little animals were visibly suffering in the bright sunlight and the extreme heat.

IAR's chief executive, Alan Knight, who took the photos said: "These rare and beautiful animals should have been sleeping in the trees of the Sumatran jungle.

"Instead they were in a completely alien environment and could be heard screaming in agony as their teeth were cut down before our very eyes.

"It was all I could do not to step in there and then to help them. But if we are to have an impact on the trade in primates as a whole and encourage the government to crack down on it, I had to take the pictures and raise awareness of the issue."

The slow loris was upgraded from Appendix II to Appendix I in June at a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. While species listed on Appendix II may be commercially traded, species on Appendix I are afforded the greatest legal protection and may not be traded for primarily commercial purposes.

However, in spite of the legislation, slow lorises are frequently smuggled from Sumatra by wildlife dealers and sold in their hundreds in the pet markets in Jakarta. Their big round eyes and soft fur make them hugely appealing as pets, and hundreds pass through the Indonesian animal markets every year.

IAR's patron, comedian and musician Bill Bailey, is a frequent visitor to Indonesia and plans to visit the new rescue centre in the New Year.

Speaking of IAR's campaign to end the trade in slow lorises, he said: "Just like the dancing bears in India, the trade in slow lorises is illegal and IAR has the backing of the Indonesian government in trying to stamp it out.

"The islands of Indonesia are full of weird and wonderful wildlife, but no one in their right mind wants to see it caged in a pet market or touted for sale at the side of the road."