These images depict the release of Javan Slow Lorises into Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia, last month.

Photojournalist Garry Rothulung has joined the Indonesia International Animal Rescue Agency team. The nonprofit Initiatives for Environmental Rehabilitation in Indonesia (Yiari) released a Javan Slow Loris and transported the animals back to their habitat (as shown below).

The Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus) is critically endangered due to rainforest habitat loss and being captured for the pet trade or for traditional medicine. These animals often have their teeth removed, which prevents them from eating in the wild. However, rescued individuals can be rehabilitated, and Yiari works to release them back into their natural environment.

While the slow loris appears adorable, it is one of the few poisonous primates in the world. When threatened, they raise their arms to mix secretions from their elbow glands with their saliva, creating a toxic substance.

This dual-action defense mechanism is characteristic of the slow loris. While the biology of their venom is not fully understood, their bites can cause severe pain, slow healing, and may provoke allergic reactions. The venom also serves to protect their fur from parasites such as mites and fleas.

These animals received vitamins (as shown in the main image) and were placed in a monitoring enclosure (see above). “They will be observed for several days to two weeks to help them acclimate to the wild before their permanent release,” Rothulung explains.