Ten Javan Slow Lorises Receive Intensive Treatment After 79 of the Critically Endangered Primates are Confiscated by Police in West Java

Photos and footage: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fe4dbp3cnjp62xy/AACBgh0kuhoZlZorKVyx6qIGa?dl=0

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 15, 2019 / Ten Critically Endangered Javan slow lorises are receiving intensive treatment at a specialist primate rehabilitation centre in West Java after being confiscated from poachers by the Majalengka Regional Police. The lorises, which had been destined for China, had been rescued from the illegal trade in the Majalengka area of West Java and were taken to the International Animal Rescue (IAR) centre on Saturday 12 January.

“We have been working with the West Java Regional Office of the Forestry Department (BKSDA) to help treat the confiscated animals. Since Thursday morning (10/01/2019) we have been doing medical check-ups at the Majalengka Police Station and at the BKSDA in Cirebon,” said Wendi Prameswari, IAR Indonesia’s Animal Care Manager.

She explained that, based on the examination, ten slow lorises were identified as being in need of further specialist treatment at IAR’s rehabilitation centre, while the rest could undergo treatment at the Cirebon BKSDA with the recommendation that they should subsequently be returned immediately to their natural habitat.

“We brought ten of the slow lorises back to our rehabilitation centre to undergo further medical examinations and treatment for their injuries and their poor condition,”she continued.

Results of the medical examinations carried out at the centre confirm that the lorises are suffering from a number of problems.These include trauma, intestinal worms, infected teeth and gums, diarrhea and wounds to the body, including bite wounds inflicted while the lorises were packed together in the small crates. One loris has a severe facial injury caused by a pellet from a BB gun lodged deep in its skull. The vets were able to remove a second pellet lodged in its shoulder.

“This type of appalling condition is commonly found in slow lorises that have suffered mistreatment from hunting and trading activities. In fact, it is not uncommon for lorises to die from stress, dehydration, and malnutrition as a result of being kept and transported in cramped, dirty boxes,” Prameswari said.

She added that four of the 79 slow lorises had sadly died. “It is estimated that around 30 percent of lorises die during the wildlife trafficking process which involves being hunted and captured, stowed away and sent to traders to be sold, both conventionally and online.”

The ten slow lorises will be kept under close observation by IAR’s medical team.They will monitor the primates’ physical condition and administer drugs and vitamins to aid their recovery.

“They will undergo a series of medical examinations and disease screening procedures in accordance with our quarantine protocols and animal welfare principles. Only once they have been given a clean bill of health will they be ready to enter the rehabilitation phase,”said Prameswari. She added that it requires considerable time, effort and expense to restore the health of lorises that have been victims of hunting and trade.In general, their physical condition is poor and their natural behaviour is adversely affected.

IAR Indonesia is committed to supporting efforts to save confiscated slow lorises and return them to the wild, as well as working with law enforcement and the forestry department in West Java.”We applaud the prosecution action taken by the Majalengka Regional Police against the two hunters who were caught with the lorises. This case shows that the trade in protected animals must be dealt with more decisively. The judicial process can act as a deterrent by awarding a maximum sentence to the perpetrators,” said Tantyo Bangun, Chairman of IAR Indonesia.

In line with Tantyo Bangun, IAR Indonesia’s Programme Director, Karmele Llano Sanchez also congratulated the police in Majalengka and the local community who provided information on the illegal wildlife trade, commenting: “We really appreciate the commitment of the police and the local people and we are very encouraged to see that the slow loris trade in Indonesia is no longer tolerated, either by the police, other law enforcement officials, or by the community.We must all say NO to the illegal trade in wildlife!”

For further information please contact Lis Key at IAR on +44 7957 824379.

www.internationalanimalrescue.org

About IAR Indonesia

International Animal Rescue is engaged in the welfare, protection and preservation of wildlife in Indonesia based on the efforts of 3Rs and M:Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release, and Monitoring.

IAR Indonesia is committed to saving, rehabilitating and protecting primates such as slow lorises, monkeys and orangutans by running two rehabilitation centres in Bogor, West Java and Ketapang, West Kalimantan.

To enhance these efforts, IAR’s team in Indonesia focuses on two things, namely habitat protection and connectivity at the landscape level, and encourages law enforcement of illegal wildlife trade activities through cooperation with government agencies such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and implementing units in the regions, private sector, local government, NGOs and local communities.The effort was also accompanied by community awareness and empowerment of local communities.

SOURCE: International Animal Rescue

ReleaseID: 532731