Pygmy slow loris
I.U.C.N status
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Identity card
Gum, nectar, leaves and buds.
Did you know?
In Vietnamese folklore, pygmy slow lorises are called “khi gio” or “monkeys that move with the wind”.
They are considered omens of bad luck and are used in black magic. Pygmy slow lorises have modified sweat glands near their elbows, allowing them to produce a toxin. By licking these toxic secretions, their bite also becomes toxic and dangerous to humans.
Threats and conservation
Pygmy slow lorises are used in medicine in Cambodia, where they are grilled, dried and turned into medicines.
Furthermore, deforestation threatens the survival of the species. During the Vietnam War, pygmy slow loris populations declined sharply due to bombing, land clearing and the use of chemical agents, destroying much of their natural habitat in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
