The Sloth Institute Receives Sloth Rescue Permit from SINAC

PRESS RELEASEA NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

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Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica — The Sloth Institute (TSI) is thrilled to announce that as of May 2025, we have officially received our wildlife rescue center permit from SINAC (National System of Conservation Areas) to operate in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. This moment marks a long-awaited and vital milestone in our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and rewild sloths, and we’re moving into the future stronger than ever.

Since our founding in 2014, TSI has been at the forefront of sloth science and conservation, driven by one bold vision: to keep sloths wild. From day one, we have pioneered science-based rewilding protocols, tracking hand-raised, orphaned sloths post-release to prove something many once thought impossible: that sloths raised in human care can thrive back in the wild where they belong.

Our work has helped shift the international conversation on sloth rescue and care. We’ve monitored wild sloths for comparison, improved rehabilitation diets by proving the importance of native forage foods, and created Costa Rica’s first comprehensive tracking program for orphaned sloths. This work allowed us to adapt our approach for better outcomes and share our expertise with other centers, creating ripple effects across the region.

Tom retrieving branches for the first release enclosure

Two-Fingered Sloth soft-release from TSI's release program

A Decade of Dedication to Sloths

As of October 2025, officially recognized as International Sloth Month, The Sloth Institute will be celebrating 10 years of operations in Manuel Antonio in collaboration with our beloved partners at Tulemar (a beautiful jungle neighborhood). While The Sloth Institute was officially founded in 2014, our on-the-ground programs in Tulemar began in 2015, making this not only a milestone for the organization but also for our work in the heart of the sloth’s natural habitat. This new rescue permit beautifully aligns with a decade of dedicated collaboration, community support, and impactful conservation.

OFFICIAL SINAC WILDLIFE RESCUE PERMIT

A Hard-Won Victory

Since our founding, The Sloth Institute has worked tirelessly to elevate the standard of sloth rescue, rehabilitation, and release in Costa Rica. From the beginning, collaboration has been at the heart of our approach.

Between 2017 and 2020, TSI operated under another rescue center and sanctuary, the Toucan Rescue Ranch’s rescue center permit. This allowed us to perform rehabilitation and release work while developing and refining our science-based protocols. During this partnership, we co-founded the Saving Sloths Together program, an initiative that dramatically raised the bar for sloth welfare and release methods in the country. This formative period laid the groundwork for our independent programs within other rescue centers and deepened our network of allies in wildlife conservation.

As we continued to build our expertise and infrastructure, we began the official process of securing our own rescue center permit. In 2021 and 2022, TSI submitted all necessary documentation and followed every instruction SINAC gave, trusting that our extensive experience and transparent operations would ensure a smooth approval process. It was imperative that we continued our rescue, rehabilitation and release work with sloths in Manuel Antonio as every day, new sick and injured animals would be brought to us for help.

However, obtaining a rescue center permit in Costa Rica is an extremely complicated, subjective and expensive process. Unfortunately, we were met with significant delays and resistance during our application and re-application processes and at times we were unsure if we would ever be successful in our ultimate goal of obtaining our own rescue center permit.

So now, we are thrilled to announce that The Sloth Institute has officially been granted its wildlife rescue center operating permit from SINAC. This long-awaited approval marks a major milestone, not just for us but also for the sloths who will continue to benefit from our scientifically backed, welfare-first rehabilitation and rewilding approach. It is also a testament to our tenacity and UNWAVERING dedication to sloth rescue, rehabilitation, and ensuring the welfare of ALL sloths in captivity and in the wild.

Below is a statement, issued by the court, that confirms that Sam Trull and The Sloth Institute have been fully absolved of any guilt or responsibility regarding the alleged legal infractions.

JUDGE STATEMENT

Change.org Petition – End the Exploitation: Help us to Save our Sloths

With 49,360 signatures from people around the world, supporters came together to express their commitment to The Sloth Institute, its mission, the sloths in its care, and its staff in response to the events of February 2023. While some negative and illegitimate commentary appeared online afterward (including various social media and online forums), we remain grateful for the strength and encouragement shown by our community during this time. We are proud permit holders and an independently licensed research and rescue center under SINAC, operating in full compliance with Costa Rican law.

LEA LA PETICION

READ THE PETITION

Looking to The Sloth Institute's Future

Today, we’re focused on the future, with hope and purpose. With our official SINAC rescue permit now in hand, TSI is preparing to build a new state-of-the-art sloth clinic and nursery at our headquarters in Manuel Antonio. We are excited to welcome new sloth patients in need and apply our world-renowned protocols in full legal standing and transparency. We’re also deepening our collaborations with other scientists, AZA zoos, universities, and reputable conservation programs, ensuring that our work continues to improve sloth welfare globally.

We extend a sincere thank you to the current SINAC leadership for recognizing the value and integrity of our work. Their support in granting this permit restores hope and creates a brighter future for sloths in need.

Preliminary Concepts for TSI Headquarters: A Work in Progress

A Letter from Co-Founder, Sam Trull, to Our Long-Time Supporters:

To our amazing supporters, volunteers, partners, and friends:

This has been one of the most emotionally exhausting and humbling chapters in our organization’s history. There were moments I wasn’t sure we’d make it to this point, and in fact, most people told me to give up, that we were up against impossible odds. But what kept us going was the sloths, and your belief in our work.

Thank you to those who stood by us when it felt like the world was turning its back. I will never forget your help and support. You signed petitions, wrote messages of support, sent donations, and reminded us why we do what we do. You reminded ME why I started TSI in the first place 11 years ago, and gave me the courage and strength to keep fighting. I’m thrilled to finally share that we are permitted, protected, and prepared for this next chapter.

Like my father used to always say, “If it was easy, everyone would do it.” There is a reason why our work is special and it’s because #TeamSloth always goes the extra mile to do everything we possibly can to help sloths in need. We are stubborn and we NEVER give up and that’s because we know that’s the only way to make true and lasting change in this world.

This is the beginning of a new decade, a new chapter, and I am excited to share this adventure with each of you.

Thank you for trusting us with this mission. We promise to honor that trust every single day.

With all my heart,
Sam Trull
Co-Founder & Sloth Mom-in-Chief
The Sloth Institute

Join Us & Help Us Save the World's Slowest Mammals

As we enter this new chapter and celebrate a decade of sloth conservation in Manuel Antonio this October, we invite our global community to continue standing with us.

Whether through symbolic sloth adoptions, monthly donations, fundraising support, or simply spreading the word, you are a vital part of this work.