Join
the Little Fireface Project in celebrating Slow Loris Outreach Week (SLOW) September
14-20, 2013.
The aim of Slow Loris
Outreach Week is to bring attention to the conservation plight of wild lorises,
which are threatened not only by the pet trade but also by habitat loss and
hunting for use in traditional medicines. The hope is that educating the public
about these amazing creatures, which include among them the world’s only
venomous primates, will inspire efforts to project them, and to denounce “cute”
videos depicting loris victims of the pet trade.
Slow lorises are small primates related to lemurs. These shy,
nocturnal animals can be found across Southeast Asia, moving through the
forests at night feeding on tree saps and searching for insect prey. Their
endearing appearance hides a fascinating fact- they are the only known venomous
primates.
Slow lorises face many threats to their survival, including
habitat loss. Most recently these unique
creatures have become internet stars in large part due to their cute
appearance. This fame is helping to fuel a cruel,
illegal and unsustainable trade that harvests lorises from their wild habitats
to be sold in markets as pets. Not only is
this practice having devastating effects on slow loris
populations, but these unfortunate animals suffer
terribly as a result. Our conservation partners at The Little
Fireface Project have recently
published the first scholarly paper linking viral web videos of loris pets to the
surging wildlife trade.
YOU CAN HELP!
Be a loris web defender…
·
Don’t
“like” or support online videos of pet lorises.
Instead, direct viewers and friends online to resources that expose the truth about slow loris
pets and the illegal wildlife trade.
·
Visit
nocturama.org to learn more about you can help slow lorises and take action by signing petitions against slow
loris trade and web exploitation.
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