Sunda slow loris

A nocturnal creature, the Sunda slow loris sleeps on branches, and even fronds, during the day, curled up in a ball in hidden parts of trees above ground.

Unlike other loris species, it is also arboreal – remaining in trees most of
its life. While not the fastest or biggest animals in the forest, slow lorises
are essential to the biodiversity of their ecosystem through insect control and seed dispersal. 

Adorable as they may be, the Sunda slow loris remains Singapore’s only venomous primate!

The glands on the insides of their elbows produce a toxin which they spread across their bodies when grooming. This allows them to roll into a ball and expose their toxic saliva-covered fur when threatened by predators, although they still prefer hiding to avoid predators completely.

The Sunda slow loris is so threatened by exotic pet trade that it is now listed as an endangered animal on the IUCN Red List. Cruelly, its teeth are often pulled out before it is illegally sold as a pet. This usually leads to infection or death, and even if it survives, its lack of teeth makes reintroduction to the wild impossible.

You can help the Sunda slow loris and end illegal wildlife trade in Singapore by reporting any cases of illegal trading or ownership to Acres and National Parks Board (NParks).