This 'Sloth Institute' Looks After Baby Sloths That Lost Their Moms
May 8, 2016
Sam Trull, co founder of the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, has been helping sloths return to the wild since 2013.

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica
The Institute has three main goals:
1. RESEARCH of captive and wild sloths
2. COLLABORATION with other institutions that work with sloths around the world; and
3. EDUCATION to generate and disseminate responsible and balanced information about sloths to the public.

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica
"I think one of my favorite things about sloths is that they mind their own business,” Trill told the Manhattan Book Review. "I realize that the ‘circle of life’ requires all kinds of species of animals, including mischievous monkeys and carnivorous cats, and no offense to those animals that need to eat other animals to survive. But how can I not be drawn to species that just want to eat their leaves, relax in the sunshine and the breeze and have a good scratch?! In addition, they have a very curious and playful side, something most people have never and will never see, but it is definitely the most endearing thing I have ever seen."

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica
A special "soft" release technique is used at the Institute that allows sloths to take their time getting acclimated to the jungle before they go off on their own.

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica
For a sloth living near humans, just trimming a tree can lead to death, let alone actually cutting an entire tree down.

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica
In addition, humans come with electric wires, cars, dogs...

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica
"When visiting a country with sloths, never pay to take a picture with one, hold one or pet one," Trull says.

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica
How can you not be drawn to species that just want to eat their leaves, relax in the sunshine and the breeze and have a good scratch?

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica
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