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July 2026Sloth-of-the-Month
The Baby Sloth Who Survived a 50km Highway Ride Under a Car
There are rescue stories, and then there’s this one.
Meet our newest arrival, a baby sloth with a survival story so wild we still can’t quite believe it happened. He’s currently unnamed (more on that below), but his story is already unforgettable.
Spotted Underneath a Moving Car
In July, we got a call from a good samaritan who noticed something impossible while driving: a baby sloth clinging to the underside of the car in front of him. He could see the little guy dangling as they drove. He honked and flashed his lights until the driver ahead finally pulled over.
That alone would be a story worth telling. But it gets wilder.
An Hour-Long Journey, Unscathed
The car had traveled over an hour from Manuel Antonio, the area where we’re based, before the sloth was spotted. That means this baby held on for at least 50km of highway driving. Wind, speed, vibration, none of it stopped him. He made the entire trip without a scratch.
We still don’t know exactly how or why he ended up under that car in the first place. What we do know is that it’s almost certainly connected to the severe habitat fragmentation sloths face throughout Manuel Antonio. When forests are cut apart by roads and development, sloths are forced to find whatever path gets them from one tree to the next, including crossing open ground. It seems climbing under a parked car has now become part of that survival repertoire.
Donate & Sponsor a Speedway
These aren’t just ropes. They’re lifelines.
The Sloth Institute, our mission goes beyond building safe travel routes like our Sloth Speedways (wildlife rope bridges that reconnect fragmented forest). We are also actively engaged in reforestation efforts in Costa Rica, restoring critical habitat for sloths and other arboreal mammals.
The Rescue of 'No Name' Baby Sloth
Once the good samaritan flagged the car down, we coordinated with our local SINAC officers to safely rescue the baby and bring him into our care. He’s now settled in at our rescue center, where our vet and husbandry team are monitoring him closely to make sure he’s healthy and thriving.
Why His Story Matters
This little guy’s journey is a direct reflection of what sloths in Manuel Antonio deal with every day. Habitat loss doesn’t just mean fewer trees. It means sloths are taking dangerous risks just to move through their own home range. Every rescue like his is a reminder of why our work protecting sloth habitat and rehabilitating displaced animals matters so much.
Luckily, he was found in time, and he’s now safe with us
Naming ContestSloth-of-the-Month
Help us Name Him!
Since he arrived without a name (and clearly with a story to match), we’re letting our community choose one. We’ve picked three finalists, all with a road trip theme to match his highway adventure:
- McQueen, after the racecar from Cars
- Douglas, after Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
- Ricky Bobby, from Talladega Nights
Here’s how it works:
- Donate $5 to feed a sloth on the official donation form
- At checkout, vote for your favorite of the three names
- We’ll announce the winning name on July 23, 2026
Every dollar goes directly toward his care as he continues his recovery.
Become a Sloth Hero
Symbolically Adopt a Sloth
Each month, we spotlight a special Sloth of the Month, sharing their story, personality, and recovery journey so you can connect even more deeply with your impact. But the love doesn’t stop there, our adoption program features a wide variety of sloths, each with their own unique story and charm. Whether you choose our featured sloth or find one that speaks to you, your support helps give them the care and future they deserve.
