Adorable footage shows the amazing moment 20 endangered Java slow lorises were released into the wild after living as pets for years.
The slow lorises were surrendered by their owners to the Conservation of Natural Resources Department between 2015 and 2018.
They have now been released into a conservation forest in West Java, after being selected for release due to them passing a number of medical exams and undergoing rehabilitation at the International Animal Rescue primate centre at the base of Mount Salak in Ciapus, Bogor, West Java.
There are seven males and 13 females in the group and they all have names, Iik, Colek, Merdeka, Najuna, Airin, Mojang, Jajaka, Haq, Gimbul, Tako, Zwitsal, Dove, Zohri, Yuna, Sari and Itih.
There are also two mother and infant pairs which allows some optimism for the future of the species.
Nur Purba Priambada, IAR medical supervisor, in Bogor, West Java, said: "They have all undergone a long rehabilitation process involving quarantine, medical examinations, behavioural observations and environmental enrichment.
"After being declared healthy, they were ready to be translocated and start habituation in a pre-surveyed location."
When the lorises arrived at the centre, it was obvious that they had been starved of the correct treatment and care. They were suffering from stress, trauma and malnutrition.
Purba explained that rehabilitation was carried out to reinforce the animals' natural wild behaviours.
Once the rehab period was over, they were moved to Masigit-Kareumbi Conservation Forest Area in Bandung.
At the release site, where the slow lorises will be free to live in the wild, enclosures have been put in place using net walls to help them adapt to the wildlife environment.
Their wild enclosure includes loads of space with a good diversity of trees and plants to provide natural food sources for them.
They will spend between two and four weeks there, until they show signs of having adapted to the new environment.
The conservation area has approximately 12,420 hectares for the lorises to roam in, and has the perfect eco-system so they can thrive.
Unfortunately, slow lorises are one of the many types of primates that are kept as pets. However, if they are kept in captivity they can eventually die due to the torture they endure from being passed through channels of illegal trade.
Featured Image Credit: International Animal CentreTopics: Life News, Real, Animals