Re-wilding confiscated slow loris in Thailand.

Project Report | May 18, 2026
Re-wilding confiscated slow loris in Thailand

By Sutasinee Saosoong | Conservation Program Manager

dietary supplements & essential veterinary supply

During this reporting period, our project continued supporting the rehabilitation and long-term care of rescued slow lorises at Bangphra Waterbird Breeding Centre in Thailand. Although there were limited field activities, ongoing daily care remained essential for the health and welfare of confiscated lorises undergoing rehabilitation.

Project support during this period focused on providing tree gum-based dietary supplements and essential veterinary supplies. Slow lorises are specialized feeders that naturally consume tree gum and sap in the wild, making appropriate nutritional support important for their well-being in rehabilitation care. Veterinary supplies also helped support routine health management and treatment for rescued animals at the center.

These efforts contribute to improving the welfare and long-term rehabilitation of rescued slow lorises while supporting future conservation goals in Thailand. We are grateful to GlobalGiving donors for helping provide continued care and support for these vulnerable primates.

A slow loris resting in a hammock

Lorises in their enclosure at the rescue center

Permalink

Jan 7, 2026
Re-wilding confiscated slow loris in Thailand

By Sutasinee Saosoong | Conservation Program Manager

Conducted the training for the forest rangers

Love Wildlife Foundation has long supported the welfare of slow lorises to the government confiscation center, Bangphra Waterbird Breeding Center (BWBC) in Chonburi Province through the provision of essential resources. Our support includes providing tree gum as a main food source, veterinary medicines, and improving enclosures and quarantine facilities to ensure better health and well-being for confiscated slow lorises.

In 2025, we conducted training sessions on slow loris ecology and nocturnal animal survey techniques for forest rangers from the Khao Kheow–Khao Chomphu Wildlife Sanctuary, located near the confiscation center. After the training, our team conducted field surveys to better understand how slow lorises live in the wild, with a special focus on what they eat and how they feed. The information collected will be used as baseline data for future slow loris release programs.

Night surveys were conducted between 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM using red-light torches to avoid disturbing the animals’ eyes. Behaviors were recorded every five minutes. In total, we recorded 1,720 behavioral observations, including 207 feeding events. The results showed that slow loris diets change with the seasons. The most frequently consumed food was nectar from cotton trees (39.1%), followed by tree gum (36.7%), flowers (8.7%), insects (7.7%), leaves (6.3%), and fruits (1.4%).

One important finding was that gum from hog plum trees (Spondias pinnata) is available year-round and can be eaten directly from naturally broken branches, without the need for bark gouging. This highlights the importance of protecting natural food trees within release areas and using similar food sources in captive care.

The findings from this survey have been shared with the confiscation center to help improve captive management practices, making care conditions closer to what slow lorises experience in nature. The next phase of the project will focus on observing slow lorises in large enclosures, which will help us select suitable individuals for future release efforts and improve their chances of survival in the wild.

This project is made possible by the generous support of our donors. Your contributions not only improve the daily lives of confiscated slow lorises but also help build a strong scientific foundation for their long-term conservation and successful return to the wild.

Observation of lorises with the KKKC'S rangers

A slow loris found on the cotton tree

A slow loris observed during night survey

Before and After renovations the large enclosures

Before & After renovation of quarantine enclosures

Permalink

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.