Area of zoo
Enclosure status
Open
Population in the wild
2000
IUCN status
Endangered
Scientific name
Loris tardigradus
Order
Primates
Type
Mammals
Family
Lorisidae
Region
Southern India and Sri Lanka
Habitat
Forest

Slender loris facts

These lorises climb extremely slowly and cautiously along branches to avoid attracting the attention of predators or alerting their insect prey. Lorises approach their prey silently suddenly grabbing it with one or both hands.

The slender loris gets its name from having thin arms and legs. They have gigantic saucer-like brown eyes that dominate their faces and a short second digit and toe that they use to grasp branches like a thumb.

Slender loris in trees

What do slender lorises eat?

Insects, small reptiles, birds and eggs.

Slender loris threats

Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, At the slightest sound or movement the loris freezes and stays perfectly still until danger has passed.

Visit Rainforest Life

A place in the city like no other, with trees filled with monkeys, snoozing sloths and bats flying overhead! Be transported to the Amazon rainforest and find out why it's one our most popular spots!

Get closer to nature

  • A wide-eyed aye-aye grips onto a log
    Daubentonia madagascariensis

    Aye-aye

    Aye-ayes use their long finger to tap on branches and listen for hollow sounds, then they use their strong front teeth to rip open the bark before reaching into the hole to pull out their prey. 

  • Alaotran Gentle Lemur
    Alaotran gentle lemur

    Alaotran gentle lemur

    These lemurs can actually swim, with mothers even carrying their young on her back whilst paddling along.

  • Ring-tailed lemur in the In with the Lemurs exhibit at London Zoo
    Lemur catta

    Ring-tailed lemur

    There are just 2000 ring-tailed lemurs in the wild today. as droughts caused by Droughts caused by climate change are destroying the fruiting trees that lemurs depend upon.

  • Squirrel monkey baby at London Zoo
    Saimiri boliviensis

    Squirrel monkeys

    Squirrel monkeys have the largest brain, proportionally, of all primates.

  • Red-faced spider monkey at London zoo
    Ateles paniscus paniscus

    Red-faced spider monkey

    Spider monkeys have a patch of skin on their tail, almost like a palm, which helps them to grip like it's a fifth hand.

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