Bangka Slow Loris Nycticebus bancanus

Bangka Slow Loris Nycticebus bancanus

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Extant (resident): Indonesia (Sumatera)

Shy and elusive tiny #primates, Bangka Slow Lorises were last reported from the wild in 1937. If the Bangka Slow Loris is still alive then the burning of their habitat and conversion to agriculture (especially palm oil plantations) is their greatest threat.

These diminuitive and sweet-faced primates are critically endangered due to #palmoil #deforestation and the illegal pet trade. Just 20% of their rainforest remains on Bangka island, #Indonesia. Help them every time you shop, be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Threats

Bangka slow lorises are also threatened by exploitation and the illegal wildlife trade. However, this risk will be less since Bangka is relatively isolated from other Indonesian islands.

Slow lorises are often caught during forest conversion due to their tendency to cling to trees rather than flee (Nekaris and Starr, 2015), meaning that they may still be traded illegally for their body parts or for the illegal pet trade. A lack of law enforcement further threatens slow loris species across their range (Nijman et al. 2014).

Appearance

The Bangka Slow Loris, just like other slow lorises Nycticebus spp. are nocturnal and arboreal. They are found in a range of habitats from heavily degraded to pristine rainforest, plantations, and lowland and montane forests and thus they should also still live in forest patches on the island (Nekaris, 2014).

Diet

They primarily eat tree gum, nectar, and fruit and insects. A potential deterrent to would-be predators is their toxic bite. They have a gland on the inside of their arms that secretes a noxious oil. When threatened, they lick this gland, making their bite venomous.

Habitat

In 2018 a study was conducted into a population of Bangka Slow Lorises on the island of Bangka in southwestern Borneo – the only location where they are found.

They were originally considered to be a sub-species of the Bornean slow loris. However, they were given full species status in 2013 when a study showed that they have distinctive facial markings.

If the Bangka Slow Loris is alive they are likely to be rapidly declining due to a loss of habitat, largely due to oil palm plantations, leaving Bangka with less than 20% of its forest cover.

IUCN

Take Action!

Protecting the Bangka Slow Loris would also protect many other plant and animal species throughout Asia. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

You can support this beautiful animal

The Little Fireface Project

Further Information

Nekaris, K.A.I. & Marsh, C. 2020. Nycticebus bancanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T163015864A163015867. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T163015864A163015867.en. Accessed on 07 September 2022.

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