Trialling exudate-based enrichment efforts to improve the welfare of rescued slow lorises Nycticebus spp.

Abstract

Slow lorises Nycticebus spp. are heavily targeted in the illegal animal trade throughout Southeast Asia. Because lorises are venomous, many have their teeth inhumanely removed by animal traders in order to 'tame' them to live as pets or to be used for tourist photography. Confiscated animals are brought to rescue centres where captive care and rehabilitation has proven challenging. Many rescue centres report high mortality, high rates of abnormal behaviour, and low rates of successful reintroductions. Most centres, however, provide little or no gums or saps to these highly specialised exudativorous primates. Our study evaluated the effects of exudatebased enrichment efforts on confiscated wild-born slow lorises at a rescue centre in Java, Indonesia, including methods to provide exudates to animals lacking teeth. We found that these enrichment efforts prolonged foraging and feeding times, but did not reduce abnormal behaviour or promote social behaviour. We found a strong relationship between the amount of time spent on the ground and the time spent performing abnormal behaviour. We discuss the positive implications of prolonging feeding periods, the practicality of each of the enrichment efforts for different types of captive settings, and methods for improving the welfare of captive slow lorises via dietary changes.

Changes in the primate trade in indonesian wildlife markets over a 25‐year period: Fewer apes and langurs, more macaques, and slow lorises

“…While data are lacking, given the age of the primates involved, their physical condition as observed in the markets, and the conditions in which they were packed, it is inevitable that these transports lead to high levels of mortality. The treatment of slow lorises, and to a lesser extent, gibbons and siamangs are particularly cruel, given that they routinely have their canines (gibbons) or their canine‐shaped first premolars, canines and incisors (the latter forming the toothcomb in slow lorises) either pulled out or cut off [Gray et al, ]. Apart from the immediate physical pain this procedure causes the animals, it often leads to infections, secondary abscesses and, for slow lorises, is a major cause of death [Madani & Nekaris, ; Moore et al, ].…”

Diets high in fruits and low in gum exudates promote the occurrence and development of dental disease in pygmy slow loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus)

“…There are many contact points between the broken cambium of the tree during gouging and/or the tree's gum during intake that may act as a source of friction and remove any plaque. Gum provided to captive lorises is either spread on branches or placed into drill holes of thick branches [Gray et al, ]. It is uncommon for a captive slow loris to gouge offered branches.…”

“…Because of the large disparity between foraging times in the wild and in captivity, we believe this to be inadequate and would recommend two or more feeds per day. The provision of gum also significantly extended feeding time [Fitch‐Snyder and Schulze, ; Cabana and Plowman, ; Gray et al, ]. Bowls or plates were reported to be used in over 92.3% of collections.…”

OVERVIEW: Conservation and ecology of the neglected slow loris: priorities and prospects

“…In their study, Cabana & Plowman (2014, this Theme Section) show that by feeding pygmy lorises reared at a UK zoo a diet based on field evidence, abnormal behaviour decreased and desirable behaviours such as travelling and feeding increased, and that the study subjects found the naturalised diet far more palatable. Similarly Gray et al (2015, this Theme Section) also examined exudate consumption in wild-caught slow lorises (N. javanicus, N. coucang, N. menagensis) confiscated from the pet trade. Because of a destructive and cruel practice, whereby traders clip out the gouging teeth of slow lorises to prevent them from biting, many confiscated animals no longer have the faculty to gouge.…”

“…Because of a destructive and cruel practice, whereby traders clip out the gouging teeth of slow lorises to prevent them from biting, many confiscated animals no longer have the faculty to gouge. Gray et al (2015) thus trialled a series of gum-based enrichments also designed to suit animals that no longer had teeth. They found that the enrichment devices prolonged feeding and foraging times, and also gave the animals more opportunities to spend time off the floor, where they were more likely to exhibit stereotypic behaviours.…”