Slow lorises are primates illegally traded as pets after having their teeth removed, suffering extreme welfare harm and often dying within months of capture.
Slow lorises subjected to tooth extraction before sale endure excruciating, unsedated dental mutilation followed by infection risk and permanent inability to meet their dietary and defensive needs. The tickling behavior that makes viral videos appears cute but represents a stress response as lorises raise their arms to access venom glands on their elbows in a defensive posture. Most illegally traded lorises die within months from the combined stresses of capture, dental mutilation, captivity, and inappropriate diet. Refusing to watch or share loris videos and reporting online trade are direct welfare interventions.