Eight slow lorises released after rehabilitation by UK charity

Eight endangered slow lorises have been released into a protected forest after being nursed back to health with the help of a British charity.

The animals underwent rehabilitation at a primate centre after being seized from illegal wildlife traders in Western Java, Indonesia, in September last year.

Most rescued slow lorises suffer from conditions including dehydration and malnutrition, as well as extreme stress worsened by having their teeth extracted.

Their behaviour, health and eating habits were kept under constant watch at the centre to make sure they were gradually returning to their natural wild state.

Now a team from East Sussex-based International Animal Rescue (IAR) has released the tiny creatures into a protected Sumatran rainforest with a radio collar around their necks.

They will spend a month in a temporary enclosed area containing a variety of trees to enable them to adapt to their new natural habitat and forage for fresh food.

Bobby Muhidin, IAR co-ordinator of survey release monitoring, said: "Our team will monitor the lorises for about a year so that we can gather valuable information about their behavioural development."

IAR chief executive Alan Knight said the illegal pet trade posed a "huge threat" to the survival of the slow loris, and its rehabilitation programme was vital to improve the animals' welfare.