SLOTHS AT A GLANCE
ENDANGERED STATUS
Not endangered/endangered
NUMBER REMAINING IN THE WILD
Dependent on species
ENDEMIC REGION
The Americas
HOW ENDANGERED ARE SLOTHS?
There are two different types of sloth and six different species. Of those, the pygmy sloth is critically endangered and the maned sloth is vulnerable. The other species are all classed as of least concern, but unless action is taken sooner rather than later this could change as deforestation continues to accelerate in the regions within which the sloths live.
Pygmy sloth numbers are thought to be as low as 100 and this is an indication of what could happen to the other species if action is not taken now.
THREATS SLOTHS ARE FACING
The health of the world’s sloth population is entirely dependent on the health of the world’s rainforests and this symbiotic relationship could prove disastrous to the sloths if deforestation continues at its current rates.
Sloths need forests full of trees to survive, and without them they become exposed to the forest floor where they are vulnerable to the many predators that share the forests with them. Sloths are defenceless to fend off predators when this happens, and that is why trees are so crucial to their survival.
FAST FACTS
- Even though the two different types of sloths are named the two-toed sloth and three toed sloth, they all actually have three toes! Their names are actually in reference to the claws on their front limbs!
- We all know sloths move very slowly, but did you know that on land they move at just 2 meters per minute? They are slightly faster up in the trees where they can move at 3 meters a minute!
- Sloths have very long tongues, and some can stretch up to 10-12 inches out of their mouths!
DO MORE
SLOTH CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
14 – 28 Nights from £803.00Volunteer with sloths and other amazing animals in the rainforests of Costa Rica.
NBC 101 celebrating 9 years of community service 