Bangka slow loris rediscovered in Indonesia after decades
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Scientists confirmed the survival of the Bangka slow loris, a primate species, after an animal rescue organization found over 90 individuals on Bangka Island, Indonesia, between 2015 and 2025.
The Alobi Wildlife Rescue Center rescued these animals from various locations, homes, plantations, and roads, treating injuries and releasing 86 back into the wild.
The Bangka slow loris, scientifically known as Nycticebus bancanus, had not been reliably documented since the early 1930s, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature to list it as critically endangered and possibly extinct in 2020. This primate is unique among mammals for its venomous bite, produced from glands on its elbows and used in conflicts with other lorises and potentially for defense.
Its habitat on Bangka Island has faced significant destruction due to tin mining and the development of oil palm plantations. Researchers note the species’ long absence from scientific record, highlighting a lack of attention despite its distinctive characteristics. The rediscovery offers hope for other species potentially surviving in under-researched areas. Scientists now prioritize protecting the remaining forests on Bangka Island and conducting systematic surveys to assess the current population size and distribution of the Bangka slow loris.
They emphasize the importance of preserving this unique primate, a product of millions of years of evolution and a vital part of the island’s ecosystem.
