World’s Tiniest Manicurists

In Singapore, the largest group of captive Slender Lorises have finally gained much needed employment as manicurists for the wealthy. These rare tiny primates are trained from birth to gnaw and chew on the keratin present in human fingernails, and the result is typically a well groomed manicure.

The primates are primarily nocturnal, so most of the grooming takes place at night while their wealthy owners are sleeping. “It is so nice to wake up with short nails,” said Khoo Hui, a prominent banking executive. “It tickles at first but you get used to it. And they are so cute!”

The lorises usually last for several weeks before they must be replaced. Some lorises that have become defective or old or injured are for sale on Ebay.