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Image via Writehanded

It’s amazing what being ticklish can do for your billing. From relative obscurity, the lowly loris recently became animal A-list material. One in particular of these wide-eyed primates shot to fame for its cutesy performance in some footage that’s pure, aww-inspiring dynamite. While the web watched, Sonya the slow loris simply looked loveable. So what’s the story with the loris – as a species and a starlet?

Introducing: Sonya…

We know this clip of Sonya has done the rounds on the old intertubes, but when we saw it, being – occasionally in some cases – cute and cuddly types here at Environmental Graffiti, it was just too adorable for us to pass up on posting. The dejected lowering of the arms, and that priceless forlorn look at the camera. A star had been born; who were we to ignore it?

When clingy is OK: A female slow loris clinging strongly to a human arm

Photo: Lionel Mauritson

Of course, when you make it to the top there are always people queuing up to knock you down. There were those all too keen to comment that the slow loris can excrete a toxin from elbow glands that it mixes with saliva in its mouth, giving these listless animals a painful, not to say venomous bite. It’s even been known to be fatal to humans because it can bring on anaphylactic shock.

Grub eat-athon, also starring Sonya

Adding to the cries of “It’s poisonous!”, some were clearly concerned about the ethics of keeping one of these creatures captive. Hence, Sonya’s owner Dmitry Sergeyev pointed out that “It is NOT ILLEGAL in Russia to own this animals,” and that “Our Sonya was born in a slow loris nursery and we have bought her in a local pet-shop. She never was in the wild. Thats why she is so tame and friendly!” So there.

Bright eyes: Slow loris spotted near Kampung Labohan, Malaysia

Photo: Daniel Chong Kah Fui

In the wild, slow lorises are found throughout much of Southeast Asia and beyond, but are endangered and actually hunted for their large eyes, which are prized in traditional medicines. As well as insects, these primates feed on lizards, small birds – pretty much anything they can get their hands on. And it’s those hands that are part of what makes the loris so endearing to us, blessed as they are with opposable hands not unlike our own. The hands and those big cute peepers. Aww.

Sources: 1, 2

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