EAST SUSSEX, UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / February 04, 2020 / Tiny baby slow loris is rescued in West Java and survives against the odds.

Photos:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eh4vy9i1ms8klw4/AADIOM9YiLI2ICl56f-HY_r9a?dl=0

Latest photos:

https://www.dropbox.com/home/Ciapus%20Diaries/2020/Rehabilitation/Meli

A baby slow loris that was rescued from a residential garden in West Java a month ago is making remarkable progress, according to the veterinary team caring for her. A rescue team from the BBKSDA, (the Balai Besar Natural Resources Conservation Agency) and International Animal Rescue (IAR Indonesia) came to the aid of the tiny Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus.)

The loris was found in a garden in Pesawahan District, Cirebon in West Java at the end of December. Slamet Priambada, Head of the Cirebon BKSDA, said that the loris had been given the name Meli after it was reported by a resident named Meliyana. She had found it in a weak condition, lying in the middle of the garden. “Knowing that the slow loris is a protected species of wildlife, Meliyana reported the discovery to the authorities.”

The little female slow loris was believed to be less than one month old. She was taken by the rescue team to IAR’S primate rehabilitation centre in Bogor, West Java. Here she was given a thorough medical examination by IAR’s veterinary team and received treatment. Slamet Priambada added: "The loris was treated by IAR Indonesia because she is still a baby and not yet able to feed or fend for herself. Later, when she is older and has grown healthy and strong, she will be released in an area which has suitable habitat for slow lorises.”

After an initial examination, IAR vet Indri Saptorini explained that Meli was weak and in poor condition. This was because she had been deprived of her mother’s care. In addition, she was found to have cuts which suggested that she might have fallen from her mother’s grasp. "Baby lorises generally depend on their mothers until the age of six months. So Meli is receiving intensive care and her condition is being assessed every two hours. The medical team has also put her in a suitably warm place in the hope that her condition will continue to improve," Indri concluded.

Latest update on Meli is that she is growing into a healthy and active slow loris. Vet Indri says she has a good appetite and has reached an ideal body weight. The medical team is monitoring her growth closely. She is in a special enclosure with a heatpad and a slow loris soft toy for comfort.

Meli is being given special nutrition to support her growth and health and every morning she is taken out to a nearby tree to learn to climb and benefit from the warmth of the sun.

Meli’s treatment and care will be lengthy. When she is bigger and stronger she will be moved to a bigger enclosure and provided with enrichment to stimulate her natural behaviour and prepare her for release back into her natural habitat. During the entire period of rehabilitation, she will be monitored daily by the vets and keepers at the centre to make sure she is healthy and learning how to survive back in the wild.

Alan Knight, IAR CEO, commented: “The Javan slow loris is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The species is threatened by habitat loss and the illegal trade in slow lorises as pets which costs the lives of countless lorises each year. Thankfully our work raising awareness of the cruelty of this trade is producing results, leading us to hope that one day lorises like Meli may live free from the threat of poachers and illegal wildlife traffickers.”

Ends.

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

https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/slow-loris-sanctuary

https://www.ticklingistorture.org