AN OXFORD professor is mounting a campaign to end the trade in the world’s only venomous primate.
Anna Nekaris, professor in primate conservation at Oxford Brookes University, starred in a BBC documentary exposing the plight of the slow loris in Indonesia in January.
In the documentary, Jungle Gremlins of Java, Prof Nekaris visited pet markets in Jakarta where the creatures and other endangered species were sold, kept in small wire cages in broad daylight.
Traders cut out the lorises’ venomous teeth to prevent them from biting, often leading to infection and death.
Prof Nekaris has launched a postcard campaign, backed by International Animal Rescue and the Born Free Foundation, urging the Indonesian government to shut down the animal markets.
She has collected more than 700 signed postcards, along with 500 comments from conservationists.
She said: “The public response too the plight of these animals has been truly overwhelming.”
Prof Nekaris presented her campaign to the Indonesian Embassy last week.
To donate to the cause, visit brookes.ac.uk/slowloris
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