PHUKET: Enforcement of the law that forbids people keeping protected animals as pets is not coming fast enough for the slow-moving lorises of Patong.
One of the cutest creatures on the planet, perhaps only rivalled by the panda and the koala, at least two slow-moving lorises remain captive and abused by fast-moving touts in Soi Bangla, Patong's walking street.
Phuketwan found this week that the two primates were being offered by their handlers to tourists for ''cute photo souvenirs''.
Crackdowns and action against people mistreating the lorises appear to last as long as the closing of Patong bars on time.
Some tourists still find being photographed with an abused wild creature an appealing proposition. Most visitors walk past quickly, understanding the abuse that often comes with keeping wild, protected animals as pets.
According to International Animal Rescue, lorises in captivity often have their teeth clipped painfully.
The huge brown eyes and soft fur disguise the fact that ''the slow loris bite can cause swelling, fever and pain and can be deadly for humans who suffer allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock.
''Their teeth are often cut off with nail clippers to protect the handler from the loris's toxic bite.
''This painful mutilation causes terrible infections, often leading to a slow and painful death.''
One of the cutest creatures on the planet, perhaps only rivalled by the panda and the koala, at least two slow-moving lorises remain captive and abused by fast-moving touts in Soi Bangla, Patong's walking street.
Phuketwan found this week that the two primates were being offered by their handlers to tourists for ''cute photo souvenirs''.
Crackdowns and action against people mistreating the lorises appear to last as long as the closing of Patong bars on time.
Some tourists still find being photographed with an abused wild creature an appealing proposition. Most visitors walk past quickly, understanding the abuse that often comes with keeping wild, protected animals as pets.
According to International Animal Rescue, lorises in captivity often have their teeth clipped painfully.
The huge brown eyes and soft fur disguise the fact that ''the slow loris bite can cause swelling, fever and pain and can be deadly for humans who suffer allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock.
''Their teeth are often cut off with nail clippers to protect the handler from the loris's toxic bite.
''This painful mutilation causes terrible infections, often leading to a slow and painful death.''
you can see them every night... and you wonder why the police don't do anything..
Posted by peter on August 26, 2012 09:13