Sunda Slow Loris Online Trade In Facebook, Tells Us Why It’s Unstoppable and Probably Damaging Local Genetic

Sunda slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) is still categorized as the most trafficked endangered primate in Sumatra. They might be not too fast to escape from the poacher’s hands. It’s a protected species according to Indonesian conservation law, but based on our collected data on the ground, Sunda slow loris trades are still being held through social media, Facebook.

Facebook private groups which are mostly operated by many pet sellers have become media for this species’ trades. Slow loris has been also marked as endangered species by IUCN Red List.

Gunung Leuser National Park is a natural habitat for this species, SUMECO and the authority of Gunung Leuser National Park have rescued and released at least more than 40 Sunda slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) around Bukit Lawang.

A current study has found that slow lorises which are found in Sumatra, especially in Bukit Lawang might be identified as Nycticebus hilleri. Wildlife authorities and conservation organizations must aware of this, as it’s becoming very important to protect the ‘local gene pond’. This applies not only to species of slow loris but also to all species that might have created their own ‘local gene pond’.

Online trades of slow lorises have indicated how big social media took part. This happens to other protected species as well that are still being traded online so far. Slow loris definitely listed as a protected species, but the interest in this species’ conservation remains low. This leads to massive unseen online trades.

Damaging Local Genetic Pond

There have been several discussions between SUMECO and some Indonesian scientists who claimed, slow loris online trade might have caused a serious disturbance in the ‘local gene pond’, that’s gonna be stressful work.

It might be worsened when the regulation requires all protected species that have been rescued from one place to be relocated to release in another place that might be too far away from where it was found or previously inhabited an isolated area.