The Sloth Institute Costa Rica

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica's vision is to enhance the well being and conservation of sloths through research and education.

The Sloth Institute's 3 part mission:

1) RESEARCH of reintroduced sloths, captive rescued sloths and of wild sloths.

2) COLLABORATION with other institutions around the world that work with sloths.

3) EDUCATION: promote responsible and balanced information about sloths to the public.

RESEARCH – In order to ensure and continue the successful rescue and release of orphaned and injured sloths each sloth is fitted with a VHF tracking device and monitored longterm post-release. The information gathered contributes to knowledge about successfully raising and releasing orphaned sloths as well as sloth ecology in general. In addition, emphasis is placed on researching wild sloth populations and sloths that enter into a rescue center for information about habitat use, population density, behavior, and biological and ecological factors that influence captive husbandry and conservation needs. 

COLLABORATION – There are many institutions that already work with sloths through out the world. The sloth institute will reach out to interested rescue centers and zoos that house sloths in order to encourage collaboration betweens facilities. Additionally, research projects could take on more meaning and have a greater impact with a larger and more diverse sample size. 

EDUCATION – There is currently a lot of public interest in sloths. This energy needs to be harnessed to encourage responsible tourism in areas where sloths are found and help the public aid in conserving and increasing scientific knowledge about sloths. Also, a specific focus needs to be on the fact that sloths are more than "just cute". The current sloth craze encourages the cruel pet trade and most social media information about sloths only fuels this idea of sloths making good pets. The Sloth Institute will work to start anti-pet trade social media campaigns, while encouraging the public to not only enjoy the cuteness of sloths but also respect them as complicated and unique wildlife that belongs in the wild.