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
Distribution of the pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is predominantly the evergreen forests of Vietnam and Laos, and secondary shrub forest in Vietnam. Due partly to unstable political situations in the countries where these animals originate, little is known about their wild status.
Pygmy loris are often kept as a domestic pets and are sold in local markets in Vietnam and Laos. 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.
In addition, their eyes, fur, and other body parts are used for medicinal purposes.
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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 yrs of age), have both passed health checks and are in good condition. Both young lorises have been radio collared abd 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 rescued and release wet season 2009
- Misteltoe was confiscated by Dinh Quan Kiem Lam and arrived on Dao Tien Christmas Day 2008. Her background is unknown.
- Health checks revealed Misteltoe 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, Misteltoe 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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