Happy birthday to the woman who turned a childhood love for animals into one of the most important sloth conservation movements in the world 💚
From muddy boots and radio antennas to scientific papers, canopy bridges, fieldwork, press conferences, and long days fighting for sloths to stay wild… thank you for dedicating your life to protecting the animals and forests you loved since you were little.
You became exactly the kind of person little Becky dreamed of becoming. And all of us at SloCo are so proud to be part of this journey!
Happy Birthday, @becky.sloth !
Sabe aqueles desastres em que as pessoas perdem suas casas? Isso não acontece só com humanos.
Esta preguiça-da-coleira foi retirada de uma área de desmatamento para a construção de um condomínio e solta em outra floresta, mas ontem foi encontrada vagando no meio da área desmatada, possivelmente tentando voltar para o seu antigo lar — um comportamento conhecido como homing (“volta para casa”).
Só conseguimos reconhecer este animal porque ele faz parte do nosso Program de Monitoramento Populacional com uso de microchip. Ainda sabemos muito pouco sobre o destino de preguiças translocadas após desmatamentos, e monitorar esses animais com GPS/rádio pode ser essencial para entender o que acontece com elas depois.
O Instituto Preguiça-de-Coleira segue trabalhando com pesquisa, conservação e políticas públicas para tentar salvar a espécie do risco de extinção em uma região sob forte pressão imobiliária.
O trabalho não para! Faça a tua doação e ajude a manter o trabalho do Instituto Preguiça-de-Coleira. Link na bio.
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You know those disasters where people lose their homes? That doesn’t happen only to humans.
This maned sloth was removed from an area undergoing rapid deforestation and released into another forest. Yesterday, it was found wandering through the deforested area, possibly trying to return to its former home — a behavior known as homing (“returning home”).
We were only able to recognize this animal because it had been microchipped. We still know very little about the fate of translocated sloths after deforestation, and monitoring these animals with GPS/radio tracking may be essential to understand what happens to them afterward.
The Instituto Preguiça-de-Coleira continues working with research, conservation, and public policy to try to save the species from extinction in a region under intense real estate pressure.
The work never stops! Make a donation and help support the work of the Instituto Preguiça-de-Coleira. Link in bio!
BREAKING: Florida wildlife officials announced a temporary halt on sloth imports following the investigation into Sloth World Orlando and the deaths of more than 50 sloths linked to the facility.
This announcement comes just days after Dr. Rebecca Cliffe from The Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo) and Sam Trull from The Sloth Institute (TSI) met directly with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and traveled to Orlando, Florida, where they spent several days meeting with lawmakers, representatives, commissioners, local authorities, and policymakers to discuss the urgent need for stronger protections for sloths in the United States.
As organizations that have spent years studying, rescuing, rehabilitating, and protecting sloths, we know these animals are highly specialized, extremely sensitive, and fundamentally unsuitable for commercial captive environments, tourist attractions, sloth encounters, and the exotic pet trade.
Approximately 98% of sloths imported into the United States enter through Miami, making Florida the main gateway for the commercial sloth trade into the country. This means the implications of this decision go far beyond Florida itself.
This temporary pause is an important first step, but our work is far from over.
The Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute will continue working toward permanent protections, stronger regulations, and ultimately a nationwide ban on the import of wild-caught sloths for commercial use and private ownership in the United States.
This moment shows what is possible when science, experts, journalists, policymakers, and the public come together to demand change.
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#Orlando #SlothConservation #Florida
Last week I was lucky enough to join the @slothconservation team as they carried out vital research on urban sloths in Costa Rica. This dedicated group is doing everything they can to help sloths survive in a rapidly changing world shaped by urban expansion, while also learning how these animals are adapting to life alongside people.
Afterwards, I travelled to the @sloth.sanctuary.costa.rica where I saw firsthand how orphaned and injured sloths are rehabilitated and cared for by an incredible team working tirelessly to give them a second chance in the wild.
The episode is out now on my YouTube channel. Go and see the extraordinary lengths these passionate conservationists go to in order to protect one of the world’s most iconic animals… the sloth.
#sloth #slothworld #slothlife #wildlifephotography #costarica
Sloths belong in the rainforest 💚 Join the Sloth Fellowship and support our work in sloth research, conservation, and protection.
Spread the word!
Links in bio and stories!
From a scientific standpoint, we already know that there is no ethical, safe, or justifiable reason to continue taking sloths from the wild — particularly when the only beneficiaries are those profiting from their exploitation.
For that reason, we are calling for a ban on the import of wild-caught sloths into the United States for commercial purposes and private ownership, and we will continue to push for that change for as long as it takes.
We are also calling for stronger protections more broadly — including a review of how sloths are currently classified, an end to hands-on encounter experiences, and full transparency when animals die in these facilities.” -Dr Rebecca Cliffe
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#SlothWorld #Orlando #WildlifeTrade
We have a long road ahead of us now, but for the first time, it feels like there is actually a road and there is a way forward. It seems that the tragedy at Sloth World has struck a chord with people across the United States (and with people all over the world) because more and more, we are no longer willing to accept wild animals being taken from their homes and used for profit.
The heartbreaking reality is that it took the deaths of 55 sloths for the world to finally pay attention. But now, the implications of all of this go far beyond sloths. What happens next could help protect countless other sensitive species too.
There is still so much more to come on this story, and so much that we can’t talk about publicly yet. But please stick with us, because I really do believe we are standing on the cusp of something very important.
And when I say we, I really mean we, because this has been a team effort from the very beginning. So many people have poured everything they have into this fight behind the scenes (massive shout out to @hannahh_mackk@annaforflorida@katie.surma@golondrinatropical@zarpal and @repmaxwellfrost who have done so much). But none more so than our partnership with @theslothinstitute 💚 we could not have asked for better people to stand beside us through all of this, and I am so excited for this dream team collaboration to continue long into the future across many different aspects of sloth protection!
And on a personal note - having @samtrull by my side over the last few days has been one of the greatest joys and honours! This is the start of something great! 🦥💃🏻
Out of all the animals David Attenborough has met throughout his life… he chose sloths. 😎
Happy 100th birthday to the man who inspired generations to fall in love with the natural world and protect it.
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If you love sloths as much as Sir David does, join the Sloth Fellowship, our community of monthly donors helping fund sloth research, conservation, and habitat protection.
Find the links in our bio and stories!
When asked, Sir David Attenborough said that if he could be an animal, he would undoubtedly be a sloth.
Honestly, it makes sense. Calm, thoughtful, tree loving, and iconic.
David Attenborough has inspired millions of us to care, to act, and to never stop fighting for the natural world, including us! Maybe one of the craziest days here at The Sloth Conservation Foundation was when Dr. Cliffe received this little letter from David himself.
And how could we ever forget the “Boo!” moment!
Legends become timeless. Happy 100th, Sir David!
@davidattenborough
#happybirthdaysirdavid
Yesterday, I visited the Central Florida Zoo where the 10 surviving sloths from Sloth World are receiving care.
I was joined by experts from @theslothinstitute and @slothconservation to discuss this tragedy and how stronger protections are urgently needed to stop this from happening again.
