 All species are listed either as " Vulnerable " or " Endangered " by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) . Populations are rapidly declining , and their distribution is becoming patchy because of local extinctions throughout their range . Although all species are protected by law in every country in which they occur , conservation efforts are hindered by a lack of public awareness , since many local villagers and remoter buyers of captive specimens are unaware of their endangered status . Recognition and awareness of slow lorises is even low among national park staff . In places like Vietnam , where these nocturnal primates have commonly been found , most local villagers were not familiar with them when shown photos . Only a few older hunters recognized them , but pointed out that they had not seen them in more than 10 or 15 years . 
