Displaced Slow Loris Returned to the Wild by WFFT

The endangered wild animal was discovered trying to enter someone’s house, likely trying to seek shelter from nearby forest fires. 

An endangered slow loris has returned to the wild after being displaced.

The Bengal slow loris was brought to WFFT’s Wildlife Hospital by a supporter who lives in a local village, after they discovered the animal seeking refuge in their backyard.  

The supporter’s concrete backyard is a far cry from the loris’ natural habitat, and the displaced animal is believed to have been looking for shelter from nearby forest fires. 

Slow lorises are solitary and shy animals and typically would not venture into human territory. But Thailand is currently in the middle of its dry season, and forest fires are common and widespread.

Forest fires are a big threat to wildlife in Thailand, as they cause severe and long-lasting damage to natural habitats, and their rapid spread can often catch animals off-guard and prove fatal. 

And this year has brought particularly tough conditions: forest fire officials have said the current number of fires is “alarming”, and it is made worse as climate change has caused the dry season to arrive early. 

This all results in animals wandering further than their usual habitat.

Thankfully, a quick checkup by our wildlife veterinary team showed that the slow loris was in good health, and ready to be translocated from where it was found back into the forest. 

The animal was released in a nearby protected forest that’s situated far from human activity and not heavily affected by forest fires. Upon release, the animal slowly made its way up a leafy tree. 

Thailand is home to two native species of the animal, the Bengal slow loris and the greater slow loris. Both are listed as “endangered”, and wild populations continue to decline due to habitat loss, hunting, and being poached for their use in the exotic pet trade.

WFFT’s life-saving work to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Thai wildlife in need of help is only possible thanks to our kind supporters. If you can, please donate here to help us continue to protect animals.