It has enormous eyes, slow movements, and a face that looks like it came from a stuffed toy. That is why the slow loris went viral on social media years ago, when videos of people petting it filled up with hearts. No one imagined that this same animal is the only primate in the world that produces venom.
The loris hides glands near its elbows that, when mixed with its saliva, generate a toxin capable of causing extreme pain, paralysis, and even deadly allergic reactions in humans. It is not the only case. The hippopotamus, that ‘gentle giant’ of the African savanna, is responsible for around 500 deaths a year, more than lions or crocodiles combined. And the cassowary, a bird that seems straight out of a fairy tale, has 10-centimeter claws capable of seriously injuring anyone who gets close to it.
Nature knows how to disguise danger with cuteness. The next time you see an ‘adorable’ animal on the internet, it might be worth looking into it a little more before wanting to pet it. 🦎🐾