# Can you keep a slow loris as a pet?

> No responsible person should keep a slow loris as a pet. Slow lorises are venomous, nocturnal primates protected by wildlife trade rules, and the pet trade often involves tooth clipping, stress, injury and illegal capture. Slow loris pet searches are exactly where WARN should intercept demand.

**Category:** Trafficking  ·  **Updated:** 2026-07-07

## Key takeaways
- Slow lorises are wild primates, not pets.
- The pet trade is strongly linked to cruelty and trafficking.
- Tooth clipping and handling are major welfare abuses.
- Report sales; do not purchase to rescue.

## Answer
Slow loris videos online often hide suffering: bright lights, handling and tickling can be stressful rather than cute.

Their specialised diet, nocturnal behaviour and venomous bite make ordinary homes unsuitable.

If you see a slow loris for sale, do not buy it. Report the seller to wildlife authorities or the platform.

## Why this question matters
Slow loris videos make suffering look harmless. Tickling, bright lights and handling can be fear and stress, not affection.

## The welfare-first answer
The welfare-first answer is simple: a slow loris needs forest, nocturnal life, specialist diet and legal protection. Household pet keeping fails those needs.

## What to do next
If you see one online, save the listing details and report through platform and wildlife-crime channels. Buying creates replacement demand.

## FAQ
### Are slow lorises venomous?
Yes. They have a toxic bite, which is one reason traders cruelly clip teeth.

### Can a rescued slow loris be released?
Sometimes, but only after specialist assessment, quarantine and suitable habitat planning.

### Why are slow loris videos harmful?
They normalise handling and can increase demand for illegal pets.

## Sources
- [CITES — wildlife trade rules](https://cites.org/eng/disc/what.php)
- [IUCN Red List](https://www.iucnredlist.org/)

Human-readable page: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/answers/can-you-keep-a-slow-loris-as-a-pet