Emily Chan
A bite is extremely painful and can cause bodily swelling, shortness of breath, nausea, a decrease in blood pressure, and muscle weakness. In some cases, their bites can lead to death by anaphylactic shock.
The toxin is released from the brachial gland found on both sides of their elbows. If the loris feels threatened, it can mix the poison with their saliva and apply it to its hair to deter predators. The animals also have very particular care requirements, feeding mainly on tree sap.
The combination of habitat loss and the illegal pet trade have caused their numbers to decline severely.
The National Zoo is striving to boost the loris population by pairing couples together for breeding. Couples are selected based on genetics, health, and temperament.
Hopefully, when guests come to visit the zoo and see the pygmy slow lorises, they will become educated on the threats these furry creatures face in the wild and why they would not make suitable pets.
