Rediscovery of the Bangka Slow Loris Sparks Urgent Conservation Push

On October 20, researchers announced that the Bangka slow loris (*Nycticebus bancanus*), thought possibly extinct since the early 1930s, has been confirmed alive on Indonesia’s Bangka Island. Field data compiled by the Alobi Wildlife Rescue Center (2015-2025) documented more than 90 individuals rescued from backyards, roads, power lines and plantations. After veterinary treatment, 86 were released at seven forest sites across the island.

Bangka Slow Loris Rediscovered on Bangka Island Despite Being Near Extinction Scientists Confirm Survival of Indonesia's Venomous Bangka Slow Loris After Century-Long Absence GizmodoNew York PostReuters

The species was first described in 1906 and recognized as distinct in 2013. The IUCN previously listed it as “Critically Endangered, possibly extinct” due to a lack of reliable sightings. Habitat on Bangka has been heavily degraded by illegal tin mining and oil-palm expansion, leaving only fragmented forest patches.

Scientists Confirm Survival of Indonesia's Venomous Bangka Slow Loris After Century-Long Absence

• Rescue records (2015-2025): >90 individuals documented.

Gizmodo

• Releases: 86 animals returned to suitable habitats.

Critically endangered Bangka slow loris documented after decades without scientific records

• Size: average body length about 10 inches (?25.8 cm).

New York Post

• Venom potency: bites can trigger severe allergic reactions, potentially anaphylactic shock.

New York Post

Study co-author Timon Glaw, a graduate student at the Haus des Meeres Aqua Terra Zoo in Vienna, called the finding “astonishing.” He emphasized that rediscovery is only the first step and urged systematic field surveys, genetic studies, and habitat protection as essential for the loris’s survival.

Critically endangered Bangka slow loris documented after decades without scientific records

The Bangka slow loris is one of the world’s few venomous mammals, highlighting the island’s unique biodiversity. Its loss would erase a distinct evolutionary lineage and weaken the ecological network of Bangka’s remaining forests. The rediscovery also challenges the IUCN’s 2020 assessment and underscores the need for updated conservation priorities in rapidly changing landscapes.

Scientists Confirm Survival of Indonesia's Venomous Bangka Slow Loris After Century-Long Absence Bangka Slow Loris Rediscovered on Bangka Island Despite Being Near Extinction GizmodoReutersNew York PostCritically endangered Bangka slow loris documented after decades without scientific records

• “The Bangka slow loris is still alive,” — Timon Glaw

Reuters

• “The most urgent priority is to protect the remaining natural forests on Bangka from further destruction, particularly through tin mining and the expansion of oil palm plantations.” — Timon Glaw

Reuters

• “The venom can cause severe allergic reactions in humans, potentially even life-threatening ones.” — Timon Glaw

Reuters

While the new study confirms the species’ continued existence, the IUCN Red List still classifies it as “Critically Endangered, possibly extinct.” No alternative assessments were presented, leaving a gap between recent field evidence and the official status. Additional population surveys are needed to reconcile this discrepancy and guide any future status revision.

Scientists Confirm Survival of Indonesia's Venomous Bangka Slow Loris After Century-Long Absence