How We Decide Where Every Rescued Sloth Goes Next
Every rescued sloth’s path is different. Walk through the real decision tree our team...
WELCOME TO SLOTH SCHOOL
Rescue. Rehabilitation. Release.
Rescuing sloths in need and properly rehabilitating them so they can return to the wild is essential to conserving wild sloth populations, alleviating suffering and protecting a species that needs every individual it has left.
Success rate of rescued sloths are successfully returned to the wild through our rescue, rehab, and release program.
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WHY SLOTHS COME TO US
TWO PATHS INTO OUR CARE
Sloths come to TSI for different reasons, and those reasons shape the kind of help they need.
injured adults
Most injured adult sloths in our care come to us after electrocution incidents on power lines.
orphaned sloths
Most orphaned sloths in our program are the result of deforestation and habitat loss.
THE 'SLOTH SCHOOL' SYSTEM BY THE SLOTH INSTITUTE
Orphaned sloths move through four stages on the way back to the wild: Elementary, Middle, High School, and University, based on weight and skill milestones. Two-fingered and three-fingered sloths are tracked on different weight scales at every stage. Select a stage to see what it takes to advance.
CLICK THROUGH OUR INTERACTIVE SLOTH SCHOOL FLOW CHART BELOW
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Ability to climb on a variety of substrates and efficiently get from point A to point B, which requires some problem-solving in the forest.
A variety of postures while engaging in active behaviors, like eating, scratching, and kissing.
Desire to eat leaves, ability to eat food off a hanger versus in a bowl, and finding food in various locations of the enclosure or tree.
Interacting appropriately with other sloths, including appropriate vocalizations when necessary.
Desire to explore, ability to be alone (if a baby), and not “needing” or relying on people.
Choice of sleep locations, graceful toileting, and appropriate reactions to threats and inclement weather.
WHEN A SLOTH IS RELEASED
Sub-Adult Size
Exact target weight depends on intake weight and how the sloth is doing in captivity.
Soft Release vs. Hard Release
The release approach is chosen on a case-by-case basis. A soft release is done in stages, with supplemental feeding provided once the animal is in the wild. A hard release is when the animal is put in a wild environment without any human intervention.
Location
The release site is matched to the region the sloth originally came from.
Post Tracking or Not to Track
We monitor some released sloths afterward through our Sloth Trax Program.
CASE STUDYBY THE NUMBERS
How TSI Helped 82 Sloths in 2020
A closer look at every rescue that came through our doors that year, broken down by cause and by species. Toggle a species below to see how the breakdown shifts. Click through our interactive graphic below to learn more.
Sloths Helped
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Rehab/Release Success Rate
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Subtracting the 12 sloths who were dead on arrival or required euthanasia, and including the 15 still in rehab at year’s end, the 2020 rehab and release success rate was 90%.
LEARN MORE WITH OUR RESCUE FLOW CHART:
