Paralyzed Pet Slow Loris Surrendered

Paralyzed Pet Slow Loris Surrendered

This is ‘Koo Koo’ a juvenile Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) that has spent the first part of his life confined to a tiny cage after being purchased as an exotic pet. Koo Koo arrived at the WFFT Wildlife Hospital a few days ago, after his owners decided that ‘something’ was not right. It turns out that spending all of his time confined to a tiny cage, without sunlight and proper diet means that little Koo Koo is suffering from metabolic bone disease. Metabolic bone disease is common in various species of wild animals that are kept in captivity, particularly in small primates and small wild cats. It can be caused by improper diet, calcium deficiency and vitamin D deficiency, as a result of being housed indoors with little access to ultraviolet light from the sun.

The Bengal Slow Loris is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This is due to loss of habitat and severe pressures from hunting, there is more than 30% reduction in population over three generations. The species is predicted to decline by more than 30% in the next three generations over its entire range due to continuing hunting pressures and loss of habitat. The major threats that this species’ habitat faces include farming, timber removal, human settlement, road building, dams, power lines, fragmentations, soil loss and erosion, and deliberately set fires. They are hunted and traded for food, traditional “medicine”, sport, and as pets.

Koo Koo has been taken for an x-ray which has confirmed that he has Metabolic bone disease, it highlighted the severity of his bone deformities.  We hope that with the correct diet and proper treatment by the WFFT Vet Team Koo Koo we will be able to increase the quality of life for little Koo Koo. Keep Wildlife Wild and Not as Pets!!!