Slow loris arm key-rings

In March 2015, after attending a workshop that was partly aimed at finding solutions to the ongoing illegal wildlife trade along China's southern borders, we had the opportunity to visit the Chinese border town of Daluo and its sister-town across the border in Myanmar, Mong La. Based on research conducted during 2006–2014 Nijman et al. (Primate Conservation, 2014, 28, 139–142) identified Mong La as a major trading centre for Bengal slow lorises Nycticebus bengalensis. The Bengal slow loris is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, partially because of rampant illegal trade, and is protected under both Myanmar and Chinese law. International trade in all eight species of slow loris is prohibited as the genus is listed in Appendix I of CITES, to which both Myanmar and China are signatories. In Mong La we observed two live Bengal slow lorises, two freshly killed, 15 skeletons, three skins, five slow loris arms and three bundles of 15 slow loris arms turned into key-rings, all openly for sale. Combined, these represent the remains of at least 32 Bengal slow lorises. We did not observe any Bengal slow lorises in Daluo—the market contained low numbers of wildlife, with the traders informing us of recent heightened presence of enforcement agency's staff, most likely in anticipation of the international workshop—but in July 2014 Axel Hofford, a journalist with the Guardian newspaper, photographed three (potentially up to five) slow loris key-ring chains in Daluo. Trade in Mong La is geared towards the Chinese market, with most wildlife observed in Daluo originating from the Mong La market across the border. The trade in slow lorises in Mong La and Daluo is in violation of Myanmar and Chinese domestic legislation and also of CITES regulations. The use of Bengal slow loris arms and other body parts in traditional Asian medicine is well known to us. We have seen a multitude of animal parts being used as key-rings, including the tails of many mammal species, and live newts, freshwater turtles and fish, each in their own little plastic container. We have not, however, previously seen slow loris arms in use as key-rings (we saw none during earlier visits to Mong La). Could our observations in Mong La and Daluo be the early signs of an emerging trend?