In the wild, the Loris is known as a great example of camouflage before their color-blind carnivorous predators. Indeed, red and green color is indistinguishable to the carnivores, which means the orange fur color of the Loris appears the same as tree leaves to them. Their eyes are big which reflect eye shine and give them good vision at night.

Lorises communicate with hormones and high-pitched sounds that humans cannot hear. In EPRC, we tend to put lories into separate cages because they prefer to live solitary.

It is a local belief here in Cuc Phuong, Ninh Binh where EPRC is located, that bringing a Loris home will curse the family with bad luck. It is indeed bad luck for anyone who dares to underestimate a Loris and tickle or threaten them. But there are still people who don’t believe in that. Before lories are sold as a pet, traders can have their teeth removed by clippers to avoid being bitten by them.

Lorises freeze when there is a threat. That makes it easy for hunters and poachers to catch them. Their only real defense is a gland inside their upper arm that produces poison when needed. Lorises lick the gland mixing the poison with saliva that will cause a painful bite, even death, to its victim. The Loris is one of only a few mammals, and the only primate in the world, that is poisonous.

Lorises are protected across their range and subject to international trade restrictions; however, the illegal trade in Loris for medicine and pets continues to put massive pressure on wild populations.