Little is known about the status or ecology of slow lorises in Vietnam, but researchers do know that the animals’ numbers are on the decline. The nocturnal primates often show up in local, regional, and international trade as pets and for traditional medicine.
Mary Blair, Director of Biodiversity Informatics Research at the Museum’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, co-directs a project that aims to gather essential population data for the Bengal slow loris and the Pygmy slow loris.
The researchers’ work includes forest surveys where they encounter the animals while walking on trails or transects at night, and gathering data from slow loris collections in museums around the world. Blair and her colleagues also collaborate with Vietnamese authorities to help identify confiscated species.
The project is jointly organized by the Museum and the Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The ultimate goal is to help conservation managers more effectively protect these species from further decline.
Funding for this study was provided by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History, National Science Foundation (CHE-1313908), the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, the Eppley Foundation for Research, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, and the USAID PEER Science Program (3-149).
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Learn more about wildlife trade research at the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation:
VIDEO CREDITS:
Producer:
Jill Bauerle
Executive Producer:
Eugenia Levenson
Video:
AMNH/J. Bauerle
Mary Blair
Images/Archive:
Mary Blair
Cao Thi Huong Giang
Thach Mai Hoang
Anna Nekaris
Additional Video:
YouTube/Slow Loris Channel
Special Thanks:
Minh Le
Music:
“Biosphere” by Frederic Riviere/Warner Chappell Production Music
“Bicycle Tour” by Gregor Huber and Martin Haene/
Warner Chappell Production Music
“Simple Truth” by Marco Ricciardi and Martine Haene/
Warner Chappell Production Music
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