By the Brevard Zoo
Deep in the lush canopies of Central and South American rainforests lie some of nature’s most fascinating and unhurried animals — sloths. With their slow movements and hook-like feet, sloths have evolved over millions of years to thrive among the treetops.
Learn about sloths and how you can protect them. Plus, meet the resident sloths at the Brevard Zoo.
Sloths: Life in the slow lane
Image courtesy of Brevard Zoo
Ever wonder why sloths are so slow? They have extremely low metabolisms and need to conserve their energy whenever possible. Both two-toed and three-toed sloths use their curved claws and strong grip to help them shimmy along branches and stay suspended upside down for hours — even while sleeping — which helps them save energy.
Though they’re mostly known for their appearance and slow-paced lifestyle, these tree-dwellers play a vital role in preserving the health of their rainforest ecosystem as a keystone species. Sloths’ dense fur doubles as a habitat for other organisms such as algae, insects, fungi and moths. These critters flourish from the nutrients and protection of a sloth’s fur, while sloths benefit from the camouflage the algae growth provides, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two.
Sloths have many positive impacts on their environment. As arboreal creatures, sloths balance the biodiversity of plants in their environment. By consuming leaves, sloths prevent the overgrowth of vegetation and act as seed dispersers to promote new plant growth. Sloths are also an indicator species, helping us identify which regions in their natural ranges need our help the most, because a decline in sloth populations typically goes hand in hand with a decline in a forest’s health.
See sloths in the wild and at the Brevard Zoo in Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild episode, “Rescuing the Sloths of Panama.”
Brevard Zoo’s work with sloths
Image courtesy of Brevard Zoo
Brevard Zoo is just one of many Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited organizations working to support sloths both in and out of their native ranges.
Brevard Zoo is home to Lorenzo and Higgins, two resident Linne’s two-toed sloths who help build a bridge between the public and their species through the Ambassador Animals program. Lorenzo and Higgins represent their species during educational encounters with guests. During these interactions, guests can form meaningful connections and learn about the important roles sloths play in their native ecosystem and the threats they face today.
During guest interactions with the sloths and all the Ambassador Animals, the animal care team continually gauges the animals’ comfort levels. Lorenzo and Higgins were specifically chosen to be Ambassador Animals because they were both hand-raised, forming a positive association with humans.
The zoo also uses choice and control. This practice encourages the animals to walk away from any experience or human interaction whenever they please. These measures help ensure the zoo provides impactful experiences for guests while continuing to be thoughtful of the Ambassador Animals’ needs.
Beyond educational opportunities, Brevard Zoo financially supports sloth conservation in the species’ native ranges. In 2024, 20% of all proceeds from the zoo’s sloth encounters were donated to the Panamerican Conservation Association (APPC), a Central American-based organization focused on public outreach, rescue and rehabilitation for sloths. Brevard Zoo has also recently teamed up with ARCAS, another nonprofit supporting sloth conservation based in Guatemala, for a long-term partnership.
Threats sloths face in the wild
Image courtesy of Brevard Zoo
All six sloth species are decreasing in population. While several of these species are yet to be considered endangered, their populations continue to face serious threats that could one day push them into a more perilous category.
Deforestation and habitat loss may be the single largest risk facing sloths today. Native sloth habitat overlaps with a large portion of the Amazon rainforest, and this wild land is quickly disappearing. One of the main factors leading to deforestation is natural resource extraction, including mining and logging. Clearing forests to make room for crop cultivation, such as palm oil trees and soybean plants, is also common. And with the human population on the rise, urban development is also a major culprit for rainforest destruction.
Another risk factor sloths face is the illegal wildlife trade. Sloths are frequent victims of this deadly practice when they are taken from the wild and placed under poor conditions to be marketed to tourists for photo opportunities. According to The Sloth Conservation Foundation, sloths placed under these conditions often only live for three to six months before perishing.
Brevard Zoo has moved away from sharing images of the animal care team holding sloths. While picking up sloths is often part of medical care, the zoo doesn’t want to communicate that these actions are okay for tourists to do when presented with the opportunity.
The zoo works carefully to accustom its sloths to human contact so that the keepers and veterinary staff can provide the best care for them, but sloths in general don’t like to be petted, groomed or bathed. Loud noises and sudden movements can often stress sloths out, but it takes a well-trained eye to understand when a sloth is showing signs of stress. These animals don’t often display signs obvious to humans that they’re in distress. Their natural fear response is to hold still. Sloths also have very sharp claws and teeth that can cause serious harm to untrained individuals handling sloths for a selfie.
Finally, human-animal conflicts are a growing threat. For sloths, habitat fragmentation has led them to cross roadways by crawling, leaving them vulnerable to traffic accidents. Others attempt to use powerlines to move, leaving them at risk of electrocution. Both car collisions and powerline electrocutions kill thousands of sloths each year as this species continues to try and navigate their rapidly changing environment.
How you can help protect sloths
Image courtesy of Brevard Zoo
There are lots of ways to support sloths in their native range from wherever you are in the world.
- Practice responsible tourism. Before you head out on your dream Amazon vacation, make sure your tour group doesn’t contribute to the exploitation of sloths. If it’s promoting sloth selfies or allowing you to hold sloths, it’s not a place you should be spending your money. Instead, look for groups that admire sloths from a distance and show respect when in their natural habitat. You can find ethical sloth tourism opportunities through The Sloth Conservation Foundation’s Sloth Friendly Network.
- Head to your local AZA-accredited organization to see sloths up close and learn all about this incredible species in the right way.
- Make eco-friendly swaps in your kitchen. Did you know that your daily cup of joe or your favorite chocolate bars require ingredients that contribute to deforestation? By purchasing coffee with the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification or avoiding foods with palm oil, you’re helping to preserve sloth habitat and promote biodiversity.
- Ready to hop on a plane and spend a few weeks volunteering? Make sure you’re dedicating your time at a worthy facility that puts their sloths’ well-being first.
- A simple way to make a big impact is donating to reliable sloth conservation organizations. Make sure to do your research to ensure your money is going to a reliable and ethical organization first.
- Spread the word. Educate your friends, family or co-workers on eco-friendly practices they can use in their daily routine or share educational fun facts about this incredibly cool species.
Sloths are an important part of the critical Amazon rainforest habitats that are currently under threat across Central and South America. While individual actions can seem small, collectively they make a huge difference. Together, we can all help conserve sloths and the lush jungle habitats they call home for generations to come.
