Our Primates
At Dao Tien we rescue and rehabilitate four species of endangered primate, which naturally belong in the surrounding region of south Vietnam: golden-cheeked gibbons, black-shanked douc, silvered langur and pygmy loris.
Pygmy loris
Pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) are often illegally eaten as meat, used in traditional medicine or kept as pets. Loris, being nocturnal, become active at night and this is one of the many reasons they do not make good pets. They also have very sharp teeth, which are usually cut to stop them biting people, leading to health issues as they age.
Confiscated lorises from the illegal trade are transferred to Dao Tien for rehabilitation with good candidates returned to the wild. All individuals returned to the wild are radio collared allowing monitoring post-release in order to gain valuable data on their survival for Government guidelines. With wild populations decimated throughout Vietnam through habitat loss and hunting, these individuals are valuable in boosting wild populations. Secondly by offering solutions of what to do with confiscated individuals, the Forestry Protection Department can be stronger with law enforcement, thus strengthening protection for the remaining wild populations.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT OUR LORIS CONSERVATION PROJECT you can SPONSOR the Pygmy Loris, VOLUNTEER in Vietnam and get hands on experience or simply buy our PYGMY LORIS PRODUCTS from the online shop (more coming soon), aiming to increase awareness for this amazing small primate before it is too late.
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Pygmy loris rescue and release 2011/2012
- Sylvia, a female estimated three years of age, was confiscated from the buffer zone of Cat Tien National Park on the 22/08/11. Found in a local orchard, she could not be returned to this area as hunting pressure is high. Sylvia has passed health checks and will be returned to a safe area of forest as soon as the rains return. Being released in the rain means food and water are plentiful giving the loris, although with good wild instincts, time to become familiar with a new area, and to learn where to hide from predators.
- Thuy An was rescued on 27/08/11 from Bien Hoa City. Sadly she has had her canines cut although when rescued it is believed she had only just come from the wild. Without good teeth, Thuy An must now stay in captivity for the rest of her life, an estimated 12 years.
- Son is a young male confiscated from a restaurant neighbouring the Dong Nai Nature Reserve. He was most likely going to be eaten. Son is estimated under 2 years of age so, as a sub-adult, immediate release was not possible. He will be released when the rains return, at the same time he reaches maturity, to a safe area within Dong Nai Nature Reserve.
- Talai, a male loris, was confiscated from a village neighbouring Cat Tien National Park on the 14/04/12. He is awaiting health checks. it was claimed they found him just walking down the street!
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Pygmy loris rescue and release wet season 2011
- Four loris were transferred to Dao Tien from Cu Chi Wildlife Centre in April 2011 for rehabilitation and radio-collared release into Cat Tien National Park.
- One male (Sergeant) has sadly failed health checks, due to his canines being cut during his time in the ilegal pet trade. Morris, another young male has passed health checks but is very thin, and has to gaincondition before his release.
- Raphael and Lindsay, a young male and female (est. 2 years of age), have both passed health checks and are in good condition. Both young lorises have been radio collared and placed in a semi-free forested area for rehabilitation. They are monitored on sleep site selection and feeding (capture of insects). During the wet season both loris will be released into Cat Tien National Park. They will be tracked for up to four months in the wild.
- Hai, the female who returned from the dry season release in 2010, has gained weight and is happily living in the semi-free forested area. She can be seen at feed stations during the night, but otherwise is proving very elusive and cannot be found in her sleep sites during the day. Thus she has gathered come excellent wild traits for a shy nocturnal animal, although is proving challenging for our rehabilitation team to find.
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Pygmy loris rescue and release dry season 2010
- Six loris rescued from the illegal trade in Ho Chi Minh City were transferred to Dao Tien from Cuchi Wildlife Rescued Centre, for release.
- To track the progress of the released loris, they were all fitted with radio collars.
- February 2010 - Three loris (Phuong, Hai and Tuyet) were released on Dao Tien and monitored for two months, before their collars dropped off.
- March 2010 - Three loris (Simone, Toby and Nhan) were released in Cat Tien National Park with their progress monitored.
- The female, Hai, was returned to the centre after one month as, when monitoring her, she lost condition and stopped travelling between sleep sites. She is now living in a fenced, semi-free area where she is undergoing further rehabilitation to ensure that, when she is re-released, she is able to select a good sleep site and hunt for her own food.
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Pygmy loris rescue and release wet season 2009
- Mistletoe was confiscated by Dinh Quan Kiem Lam and arrived on Dao Tien Christmas Day 2008. Her background is unknown.
- Health checks revealed Mistletoe to be a young female born early 2008.
- Thang, a young male, was transferred from Cuchi Wildlife Rescue Centre, after being confiscated from the illegal trade.
- In August 2009, Mistletoe and Thang were fitted with radio collars and successfully released back into the wild.
- These two loris were monitored for two months until their radio collars dropped off. When last seen, they both looked very healthy.
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