In recent years the world has fallen in love with sloths. Their sleepy rise to fame has led to appearances in children’s movies, on t-shirts and on social media, but one woman in particular knows all too well how special they are. Sam Trull, director of the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, will give a free presentation entitled “For the Love of Sloths” in the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ WRAL 3D Theater, Thursday, April 21, 7 p.m. The talk will be followed by the sale and signing of Trull’s new book, “Slothlove,”and a late-night stroll through the Museum’s Living Conservatory, home of the Museum’s own popular sloth.

In her talk, Trull will share how her world changed forever when she gave up her comfortable life in the United States for the wilds of Costa Rica and how after almost 20 years of working with animals, sloths captured her heart. “Slothlove” is a stunning 100-page art-and-photography book that takes us on an inspiring and intimate visual journey into the world of sloths and features photos taken by the author. Woven between the images are unforgettable stories of heartbreak and survival, as well as interesting facts about these intelligent, elusive and beautiful creatures.

Immediately following the talk and brief Q & A, the audience will be invited to take a walk through the Museum’s Living Conservatory (4th floor), where a two-toed sloth has lived for the past 15 years. During the day, the sloth stays tucked in his enclosure at the top of a tree inside the Living Conservatory, but the likelihood of seeing him is higher from 8 to 9 p.m. Copies of “Slothlove”will be for sale in the Acro Café, adjacent to the Living Conservatory, during the same time. Trull will also be on hand to answer questions and sign copies.

About the Author

After receiving her B.S. in zoology from North Carolina State University, Trull went on to earn a Master’s in primate conservation from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom. Over the last three years, she has logged more than 15,000 hours working with sloths and has become dedicated to their survival and conservation. In August 2014, Trull co-founded the Sloth Institute Costa Rica, with a vision of enhancing the welfare and conservation of sloths through research and education. In addition to her conservation efforts, Trull has practiced photography since 2010. Her photos have been published by BBC One, BBC Earth, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, The Huffington Post, The Tico Times, La Nación (Costa Rica), Indy Week, Our State Magazine and others. Trull and the sloths were featured in an episode of the BBC One series “Nature’s Miracle Orphans,” which aired on PBS stations around the United States.

About the Museum

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (11 W. Jones St. and 121 W. Jones St.) in downtown Raleigh, is the state’s most visited cultural attraction. It is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world, drawing them into the intriguing fields of study that are critical to the future of North Carolina.