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THE HAGUE—Parties to the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species worked rapidly
this morning to increase global protection for the slow loris, an
endangered primate found in tropical and subtropical forests in
Southeast Asia.
“Being nocturnal and small
these primates have been ignored for some time despite the serious
peril confronting them throughout their range. Today’s
decision will dramatically reduce the enormous, unsustainable off-takes
they currently experience and will contribute positively to their
long-term survival,” noted Dr. Sandra Altherr speaking on
behalf of Pro Wildlife, a German nongovernmental organization and
member of the Species Survival Network (SSN).
The Kingdom of Cambodia proposed to
increase the loris’ status under the Convention by
transferring it from Appendix II to Appendix I, thus prohibiting all
commercial trade in the species. Sadly, these endearing animals are
taken by the tens of thousands to be sold as pets or used in
traditional medicine. As a consequence, populations of all five species
have suffered a serious decline and only recently, four slow loris
species were recommended for an uplisting in the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species.
“Our research demonstrates
that international and national trade in slow lorises is depleting the
species at an increasing rate and we are glad the Parties have taken
this information on board in reaching their important
decision,” said Dr Barbara Maas, CEO of Care for the Wild
International, also a member of SSN.
Editors Notes
- Distribution:
tropical and subtropical rainforests with dense canopies in South and
Southeast Asia; genus now recognized to cover five species; N.
bengalensis (recognised as a valid species in 1997):
Bangladesh, Cambodia, China,
India, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Myanmar,
Thailand, Viet Nam; N. coucang: Indonesia
(Sumatra), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand; N. pygmaeus:
Viet Nam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, China; N. menagensis (recognized
as a species in 2003 and again in 2007): Philippines, Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia (Borneo).
- Threats:
national and international trade as pets and for traditional medicine
and food; habitat destruction and degradation; random reintroductions
of captive specimens to forests distant from point of origin
- Trade:
heavily exploited for local and international trade; almost all
specimens in trade have been caught in the wild at a rate that far
exceeds the low reproductive rate of the genus; increasing market
demand due to economic changes and human population growth in region;
individual species are protected in many range States but laws are
poorly enforced, species are difficult to distinguish in trade, and
illegal trade far exceeds recorded legal trade.
For more information contact:
Adam
M. Roberts, Press
Officer,
In The Hague: 06-5213 6798
Globally: 1-202-445-3572
E-mail: press@ssn.org
WORLD FORUM CONVENTION CENTRE
10, Churchillplein NL-2508 THE HAGUE
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