Dramatic photos show bid to save the Javan slow loris

These stunning images capture an extraordinary rescue mission that took place last month – the liberation of Javan slow lorises into their rightful home in Ujung Kulon National Park, located on Java Island, Indonesia.

Photojournalist Garry Lotulung accompanied a dedicated team from Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI), a non-profit organization focused on animal rescue, as they undertook the challenging task of transporting and releasing these resilient creatures.

The Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus) is classified as critically endangered, primarily due to habitat destruction and illegal pet trade. In many cases, these animals have undergone painful procedures, including tooth removal, to prevent biting, further hindering their survival in the wild. YIARI’s goal is to rehabilitate these slow lorises until they are fit to fend for themselves in the wild, at which point they are released.

Although cute and seemingly harmless, slow lorises are known to be the world’s only venomous primates. When they feel threatened, they can use their unique venom, derived from a combination of saliva and secretions from their arm glands, as a defensive mechanism.

The process involves both monitoring and rehabilitation, with the animals first receiving vital vitamins and being placed in a controlled environment for observation. Lotulung notes, “They are observed for a duration ranging from a few days to two weeks to confirm their ability to survive independently in the wild before they are permanently released.”