Trialling exudate-based enrichment efforts to improve the welfare of rescued slow lorises Nycticebus spp.

Ae Gray,Kai Nekaris,Wirdateti Wirdateti

doi:10.3354/esr00654

Abstract

Slow lorises Nycticebus spp. are heavily targeted in the illegal animal trade through- out Southeast Asia. Because lorises are venomous, many have their teeth inhumanely removed by animal traders in order to 'tame' them to live as pets or to be used for tourist photography. Confis- cated animals are brought to rescue centres where captive care and rehabilitation has proven challenging. Many rescue centres report high mortality, high rates of abnormal behaviour, and low rates of successful reintroductions. Most centres, however, provide little or no gums or saps to these highly specialised exudativorous primates. Our study evaluated the effects of exudate- based enrichment efforts on confiscated wild-born slow lorises at a rescue centre in Java, Indone- sia, including methods to provide exudates to animals lacking teeth. We found that these enrich- ment efforts prolonged foraging and feeding times, but did not reduce abnormal behaviour or promote social behaviour. We found a strong relationship between the amount of time spent on the ground and the time spent performing abnormal behaviour. We discuss the positive implica- tions of prolonging feeding periods, the practicality of each of the enrichment efforts for different types of captive settings, and methods for improving the welfare of captive slow lorises via dietary changes.

Highlights

The wildlife trade for exotic pets and traditional medicines is a multi-billion dollar industry, resulting in the displacement of millions of fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals from their native habitats (Nijman 2010)
Animals are generally destined to live out their lives in captivity, unable to eat or defend themselves in the wild, or die as a result of the procedures. One such group heavily impacted by the illegal wildlife trade are Asia’s slow lorises Nycticebus spp., which are traded for traditional medicines and as photo-props and pets (Nekaris et al 2009, Starr et al 2010)
Slow lorises occur in 13 Southeast Asian countries and are protected in all of them; all species are listed in Appendix I of CITES

Summary

Introduction

The wildlife trade for exotic pets and traditional medicines is a multi-billion dollar industry, resulting in the displacement of millions of fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals from their native habitats (Nijman 2010). Many animals are maimed in the process, either via live extraction of body parts or fluids One such group heavily impacted by the illegal wildlife trade are Asia’s slow lorises Nycticebus spp., which are traded for traditional medicines and as photo-props and pets (Nekaris et al 2009, Starr et al 2010). Considering that the toothcomb is vital for defence, grooming, socialising with other lorises and, perhaps most importantly, gouging for gum (the most important element of a slow loris’s diet) (Wiens et al 2006, Swapna et al 2010, Starr & Nekaris 2013, Streicher et al 2013, Das et al 2014), those that survive cannot be returned to the wild (Nekaris et al 2013b)

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Results

Conclusion