Discover Why Slow Loris Venom Is So Nasty

Animals use various things to protect them while living in the wild. Some use their size, while others use the strength of their bite to ward off predators. The slow loris is no different, as they are one of the most venomous creatures in the world. Ironically, they are also some of the cutest animals around. Should you ever come across one of these animals, you’ll have to resist the urge to pet it. Instead, you must turn around and get as far away from it as possible. Slow lorises have the distinct honor of being the only venomous primate in the entire world. If you don’t escape its bite, the results could be horrific for you.

This is What Happens to You if You’re Bit By A Slow Loris

Being bit by a wild animal is something you should always avoid doing. The slow loris is an animal that has some of the worst venomous side effects. Should a slow loris bite you, you need to go to the closest hospital you can find. According to the New York Times, the outcomes of a bite can be necrosis, which causes the loss of half of a face, eye, or scalp. This happens because the venom attacks different cells throughout the human body and kills them, causing the tissue to weaken.

How Do Slow Lorises Obtain Their Venom?

Slow lorises don’t get their venom like most animals do. They have to lick sweat glands underneath their arms, which then mixes with saliva from their mouths. If you ever see a slow loris start to slowly rise their arms, it’s time to run. That’s the sign of them starting this process. The combination of the secretion that they lick along with their saliva creates this lethal combination. Ironically, slow lorises usually don’t often bite other animals or creatures. Instead, they use this venom on each other as a way of asserting dominance and settling different disputes. It’s amazing to think something so powerful is only used on the same species.

What You Should Do if Bitten By A Slow Loris

As previously mentioned, the first thing you should do is make your way to the closest hospital if you’ve been bitten. Once there, it will depend on how long the bite has been there and where it’s located on your body. There’s a chance the body part will have to be amputated. This is to try to keep the rest of your body as healthy as possible. There are now dead cells and tissue that can’t be fixed after you’ve endured a bite. If the bite is somewhere you can’t amputate, you will be prescribed different medications to help keep the infection from spreading. The long and short of it is getting to the hospital as quickly as you can so professionals will be able to take care of the situation.

Where do Slow Lorises Live?

The southeastern part of Asia is where you’ll be able to find slow lorises roaming about. This can range anywhere from the northern portion of India and Bangladesh to China. You can even find them on the island of the Philippines. Slow lorises enjoy rainforest and tropical areas, so make sure to be mindful whenever you’re taking a hike in any of these places.

Can You Own A Slow Loris?

There are different venomous animals you can own. Unfortunately, for those hoping to adopt one of these cute yet dangerous creatures, slow lorises are in fact illegal to own. They are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES for short. It’s important to respect and understand that slow lorises are endangered. We must help keep them safe.

What Do Slow Lorises Eat?

Despite being so powerful and venomous, slow lorises have a very modest diet. They consistently eat plants and bushes. They love fruits, berries, tree sap, tree gum, and nectar. This makes up most of their meal plan. The only animals they’ll attack to eat are insects or any animal that’s smaller than them. Due to their enhanced sense of smell, slow lorises only eat in the dark. Due to their incredible sense of smell, slow lorises are nocturnal, and sleep during the day. This makes it easier to hunt prey whenever they feel like changing it up.

Slow lorises are some of the cutest animals out there. But they’re also some of the most dangerous. Their venom can cause you to lose body parts by destroying your cell tissue. It’s crucial to be careful whenever you’re in an area where they live since they can be lethal.

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