 The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) first listed the two known species of slow loris under Appendix II on 7 January 1975 . All newly identified species were covered by Appendix II on 2 April 1977 when all primates were given either Appendix I or Appendix II protection . Appendix II only requires an export permit for international trade , as long as trade will not negatively impact the survival of wild populations . Most of the trade in slow lorises , however , is illegal and usually involves smuggling to Japan . The lack of legal trade reported to the CITES Secretariat is shown in the CITES trade database , where minimal trade by CITES Parties has been reported up until 2007 . Regardless , slow lorises remained vulnerable to international trade under Appendix II , and the rampant Southeast Asian pet trade was another reason for concern . As a result , Cambodia proposed that slow lorises be elevated to Appendix I , which prohibits species from being traded internationally for commercial purposes and requires both import and export permits for certain types of non @-@ commercial trade , such as scientific research . The proposal covered all three species recognized at the time — the Sunda slow loris , Bengal slow loris , and pygmy slow loris — because they have traditionally been managed collectively owing to a lack of knowledge as to how to distinguish them . 
