ConservationNewsSloth Diaries
After watching the latest episode of “Nature’s Miracle Orphans” on the BBC, you may be wondering “Where is Monster, natures miracle sloth now?”
I am so proud to tell you that Monster is in the process of being released! She is living inside of a large (6x6x6 Meter) soft release cage with her friend Piper. She has been living in this release cage for the past few months getting acclimated to the weather, smells, sounds and food that she will be eating once free. Next week she will be fitted with her very own VHF tracking collar which will ensure that my Sloth Institute research assistants will be able to find her any time of day or night.
Research staff spend hours every single day collecting wild leaves for Monster and Piper to eat so that they know what to eat once outside and free. In about a month the door to her release cage will be opened so she is free to come and go as she pleases. She will be monitored 24/7 by my research staff who will be recording her behaviors, postures, height in canopy, tree species, size of tree etc. Simultaneously we are also monitoring wild three toed sloths at the release site around Monster’s age…so we have comparison data to know if Monster is behaving and eating like a wild three toed sloth….or if she has room for improvement! The wild data is crucial to be able to evaluate Monster’s progress through the process of her soft release.
Her release is considered “soft” because she is gradually getting used to the wild environment while we are still providing food and shelter if she needs it. This allows her to more naturally find her way around her new forest home while she learns where to find food and shelter…something her mother would have taught her had she not been orphaned. Luckily, having been born in the wild, she is still equipped with many natural instincts which will aid her in finding food and shelter and also staying invisible to predators. But if she needs help…we will be there for her!
This entire release project is not only for Monster…we also have her friend Piper (another three toed sloth) and two two-toed sloths (Ellen and Kermie) who are pioneering our long term post-release monitoring project with hand-raised sloth orphans. Eventually these methods will be used to help all of the other orphaned sloths reintegrate back into the wild as well as sloths at other rescue centers around the country. Long term monitoring is essential in determining not only the success of the release but also to learn more about the natural ecology of sloths in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica and the problems they face because of habitat destruction and ultimately how we can prevent sloth babies from being orphaned in the future. The Sloth Institute was originally created to facilitate this dream release program and has now expanded into wild studies and educational programs to help teach the future generation how to save the forests for all wildlife, but especially sloths.
On a more personal note I am SO proud of Monster, natures amazing miracle sloth. She went from a tiny insecure 2 week old miracle orphan who cried herself to sleep, to a confident, 2 year old young sloth who loves nothing more than being high in the trees and searching for leaves to eat. She is gorgeous and she doesn’t need me anymore….which is one of the most bittersweet feelings….I miss the times we spent together in the nursery…but I am so grateful that she has made it this far and finally has that second chance to live a wild life that she so deserves. My dream for the past 2 years has been to see her released into the rainforest canopy. Now that her release is actually happening…my newest dream is to see her with her own baby one day…at that point I think I can actually exhale…knowing that my miracle baby girl has finally made it back home.
#slothlove #borntobewild
By Sam Trull
hi my name is Paige and I love sloths. I have sloth toys, adopted sloths and get the sloth calendar every year.I saw the programme on bbc1 about monster and locket. I was sad and crying to see the baby sloth dying but I love seeing people like you helping the sloths. We are learning about rainforest in school and I keep talking about helping sloths. One day I hope to come to Costa Rica and see sloths and maybe help them. Thank you for looking after sloths you are amazing
Thank you Paige! And thank you for caring about these precious orphans and helping to conserve them!