Li'Iri was a Force-sensitive slave of the Tarasin species.
Around 20 BBY, Li'Iri, while still a youngling, was taken captive because of their natural Force abilities. Three other Tarasin children were also captured: Tiscak, Honna, and Kaj. The Chevin slave trader Phylus Mon was their captor, and he imprisoned them within a cell located in his slave menagerie aboard the ship known as the Animiasma. Furthermore, Phylus Mon used his barbed, three-tailed whip to brutally lash each of the children.
The abduction of the children did not escape the notice of Jedi Master Lanius Qel-Bertuk. He was aware of the kidnappings and even harbored suspicions about Phylus Mon's involvement. However, he remained powerless to carry out a rescue mission.
Within the zoo, the children were confined to a cell, standing out as the only Force-sensitive beings. They developed an immediate aversion to a fellow prisoner named Halin Bok. Honna also established communication with the Mantellian Savrips residing in a neighboring cell, specifically Clu, Taf, and Mev. The Savrips vowed to break through the energy bars to defend the children if anyone tried to harm them. Honna was afraid of that, because the energy bars could easily kill the Savrips should they ever attempt that.
Mon implanted an explosive device near the heart of each slave through surgery. This explosive was designed to detonate upon Mon's death, but it could also be deactivated by an ion weapon. In addition to this, the slaves held within Phylus Mon's zoo were routinely subjected to physical abuse.