RED RED SLENDER SLENDER LORIS LORIS

Have you ever wanted to view an animal that very few people have the opportunity to see? Here at the Memphis Zoo, you will have the unique experience of seeing a red slender loris. We are the last place in North America where you can see one of these rare, magnificent creatures in captivity.

The red slender loris is a solitary, nocturnal primate. They are native to the rainforests of Sri Lanka and spend the majority of their lives in trees. They are skilled hunters that climb through the trees using their well-developed sense of smell to find insects to eat. They cannot jump, however, they are able to move between branches by stretching. They have a remarkably strong grip for their size due to specialized capillaries in their wrist.

The Memphis Zoo is proud to be home to four red slender lorises, three males and one female. Theo is the youngest male and he is the son of Vyvy and Kumar. He is only six years old and he was named after a beloved staff member here at the zoo, Steve Theodore Bogardy, who was the team leader for the Herpetarium and Aquarium. Vyvy is our only female and she is almost 12 years old. Kumar is our oldest male at 13 years old and Jung is almost 11 years old. These are the last remaining red slender lorises in captivity in North America. Come say hi to them in the Animals of the Night exhibit!

These primates are in steep decline in the wild and are listed as endangered. Their primary threats are habitat loss and deforestation. The population of red slender lorises that were in captivity were not sustainable, therefore many zoos stopped working with this animal. It is important that we share this unique animal with the world so that people can be aware of the danger they face in the wild. This species is at risk, but their survival is up to us. By learning more about these animals and being an advocate for the species, you can spread awareness of the threats they are facing!