slothlove Archives - The Sloth Institute

The Sloth Institute featured in La Republica!

Sam Trull — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 09:07:15 +0000

Dolly arrived with injuries from an electrocution when climbing on the cables.

Dolly, a lazy two-fingered sloth, attends every week to an acupuncture appointment where they play spa music and she gets to eat her favorite leaves during the treatment.

After six weeks of somewhat unusual therapy, she is recovering movement of her arm, but her hand still needs a bit more help.

“We are seeing progress, and as long as we want to continue, and Dolly is willing to do so too, the specialist said she will continue to donate her time,” said Sam Trull, the co-founder of the Sloth Institute in Manuel Antonio.

Dolly was discovered with large burns on her body after an electrocution with a transformer, but the damage to her arm was not as deep as in other similar cases.

“Basically the options were to amputate a healthy arm, or find a way for the arm to fully function again,” said Trull, who also cares for sloths abandoned by their mothers or injured by dogs.

In about six months, the animal could be released back into the wild if she responds to the acupuncture treatment recommended by Constant Boshoff of the Rafiki center.

Although acupuncture treatments are relatively new with wild animals, it has already been successful in helping a Congo monkey recover from partial paralysis in the Animal Rescue Zooave.

The original article can be found here.

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The Sloth Freedom Project

Sam Trull — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 18:59:28 +0000

Definition of Freedom – “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.”

One of the main tenants of The Sloth Institute is to improve the welfare of sloths. Providing proper enrichment and wild foods are a great way to improve the lives of captive sloths on their journey through rehabilitation. But ultimately, there is no greater way to enhance a sloth’s welfare (or really any creature’s welfare) than by giving them their freedom.

As humans, we are sometimes so arrogant to assume that other creatures aren’t smart enough, or aware enough to have desires beyond being well fed and safe but in reality the ability to make your own decisions creates feelings of relief that pass species boundaries. From a scientific perspective, the assets of freedom can be explained by detailing the benefits of a life in their natural environment. For example with sloths it is stressful to not live in a habitat where they can climb high and find adequate hiding locations. This behavioral desire can be explained by a need to avoid predators and find shelter in a storm, but what if it also just ‘feels right’? What if they have an ‘inexplainable’ urge to make decisions for themselves and there’s no scientific proof to make it valid? What is curiosity and why do so many creatures have this drive to explore? Sloths are curious and enjoy exploration and only freedom in a natural jungle environment can satisfy those needs.

With all of that said, the wild isn’t always a friendly place and there are certainly dangers that must be faced each day. But like with us, surmounting those challenges and conquering your fears leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction. Without facing challenges, even life threatening ones, you get bored. Sloths have a bad reputation of being lazy and stupid. Neither of those things are true, they are efficient and deliberate and they can get bored. It is our philosophy with the “Sloth Freedom Project” to encourage the best lives possible for each sloth that enters our program and we aim to give them the lives they deserve by providing them their freedom. Now of course it isn’t as simple as just putting them in a tree and saying, “good luck”! Each individual is different and the release process is time consuming and expensive and we are there to help them every step of the way.

As Colin Powell once said, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work”. Our dream is to offer freedom to as many able-bodied sloths as possible, and the TSI team certainly works hard (and sweats a lot!). We’ve already seen this dream realized for sloths like Ellen, Kermie and Monster and our determination only grows stronger as we continue to chisel away at that giant mountain of hope for other sloths…waiting for their chance to be free.

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Make a Difference, TSI’s Elementary School Sloth Challenge kickoff begins!

Sam Trull — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 02:10:29 +0000

Jane Goodall says, “What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”. Teachers of the world make a difference each and every day by inspiring our young. One of our three missions at The Sloth Institute Costa Rica is Education; through education we hope to assure the well-being of sloths not only here in Costa Rica but on this planet. And by helping the sloth, we help preserve trees and the forest; for without a tree or the forest, not only would sloths become endangered but so will many other species of animals.

We are thrilled to have so many teachers signed up to participate in our 2016 Elementary School Sloth Challenge when we celebrate International Sloth Day the entire month of October. Inspired by Ms. Yang’s 1st grade class at West Point Elementary, The Sloth Institute through the many teachers who have signed up to participate, hopes to help inspire and educate young children about wildlife conservation. By educating our young about the importance of conservation of wildlife and the forests, we help ensure that our planet will be preserved in the future. Help us celebrate by sharing this with all the teachers you know. Teachers who have signed up will be receiving Sloth/Wildlife Information (Sloth Facts, How to be a Responsible Sloth Tourist, Why Taking Sloth Selfies is not a Good Idea and Why it’s Important not to Support the Pet Trade) throughout the month to share with their classrooms. You can still sign up as late as 5pm PST on October 3rd.

Here is the schedule for the month:

Week 1 Lesson:
Sloth Facts; Activity: Sloth Coloring Page or an activity of the teachers choosing

Week 2 Lesson:
Being a Responsible Sloth/Wildlife Tourist; Activity: The Pledge (stay tuned for more information on The Pledge!)

Week 3 Lesson:
Why Taking Sloth (or any other wildlife) Selfies is not a Good Idea; Activity: Discuss ideas on how to enjoy the wildlife without disturbing them

Week 4 Lesson:
Why the Pet Trade is So Bad; Activity: Come up with an anti-pet trade slogan and drawing (this can be submitted for a chance to win a 15 minute Skype session with Sam).

Thank you for your support and for teaching our young ones. And don’t forget, make a difference! #slothlove

Illustration by Autumn Ashley

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We WiSH for a Better World for Sloths!

Sam Trull — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 02:11:50 +0000

Here at The Sloth Institute, we work tirelessly every day to make positive differences in the lives of the sloths of Costa Rica. From helping orphaned and injured sloths get a second chance at a life back in the wild, to conducting in-depth scientific studies that teach us things like what sloths eat, how they navigate a complex environment, and what diseases they most frequently acquire. To help us accomplish these goals we are building a Wild Sloth Health (WiSH) lab where we can efficiently collect and analyze samples and evaluate the many hours of behavioral data that we collect every day.

The WiSH lab is not only needed to complete our investigations but it also represents our hopes, dreams and wishes for the sloths that we work with every day. We WISH for a world where all sloths can be happy, healthy and free. But without your help we can’t make this happen, so now we want to know: What do you WISH for sloths?

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The Sloth Institute and Toucan Rescue Ranch Partner to Help Orphan Sloths

Sam Trull — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 01:16:46 +0000

Collaboration focuses on releasing hand-raised orphaned sloths back into the rainforest

June 13, 2016: (Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica)

The Sloth Institute (TSI), located in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica announces its collaboration with Toucan Rescue Ranch (TRR) to begin a Sloth Release and Education Program at TRR to enhance its Sloth Release and Education Program. TRR’s release site is located in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, which is one-hour from their rescue center. This release site has 40 acres of rainforest where 16 sloths have already been released by TRR. TSI is excited to further this release program with the release of hand-raised orphaned sloths.

The collaboration, in alignment with TSI’s mission of the conservation and well-being of sloths, focuses on a 3-part release plan of hand-raised orphaned sloths back into the rainforest.

We are very excited to be able to share what factors we have learned and are learning that contribute to hand-raised orphaned sloths successful re-entry into the rainforest”, said Sam Trull, co-founder and Sloth Director at TSI. “The sloths at TRR will begin their journey into TSI’s Soft-Release Program. Fitted with tracking collars, the sloths will be tracked around the clock to collect behavioral data, locational data and health status information; critical for the replication for other orphans to have a chance at going back home to the rainforest”.

“Our hope with this collaboration is to better learn how to prepare orphaned sloths brought to our center for eventual re-entry into the rainforest” said Leslie Howle, Founder/Owner of TRR. “There is a critical need to give these orphaned sloths a second chance at life and with The Sloth Institute’s assistance we are so excited to be a part of the sloths journey back to the jungle where they belong.”.

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A sloth tries on her tracking collar for the first time which allows researchers to find her in the rainforestTrull, who spent more than a decade working with primates, began her study of sloths three years ago. “Sloths are not a primate species but are very similar and endearing because of their human like qualities and are in danger”, said Trull. Howle who has spent over 12-years working with Costa Rican wildlife and nine-years with sloths, is excited to enhance their release site and see sloths off into their journey to be wild. Trull and Howle have been sharing sloth information for the past two years.

About The Sloth Institute of Costa Rica

The mission of The Sloth Institute Costa Rica is to enhance the well-being and conservation of wild and captive sloths through research and education. TSI is also dedicated to collaborating with sloth rehabilitation programs to assist with the release of hand-raised orphaned sloths. TSI is located in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. For further information or to donate to this project, email info@theslothinstitute.org.

About Toucan Rescue Ranch

The Toucan Rescue Ranch (TRR) was established in 2004 by Leslie Howle and Jorge Murillo as a rescue center for toucans and other birds. TRR quickly expanded to owls as well. In 2007, a baby sloth, Millie, arrived and was solely in Leslie and Jorge’s care. Millie is initially what transformed the Toucan Rescue Ranch into to a wildlife rescue center. TRR focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, research and release of Costa Rican wildlife. We provide care for confiscated, sick and injured animals. For further information, or to donate to this project, email info@toucanrescueranch.org or visit www.toucanrescueranch.org.

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The Value of a Tree and a Sloth named Milena

Sam Trull — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:03:21 +0000

When I was an elementary school child, I used to plant acorns. One by one I would dig out little tiny holes in the ground, drop in the acorn, cover them up and keep them watered. I would check on them every day. When they first started sprouting I was SO proud. As they continued to get a little bigger I kept an obsessive watch. I would play near them every afternoon just to be with them. In fact, I remember taking my little tiny toy cars (no gender stereotypes here!) outside and I would drive them around the small saplings as if they were giant redwoods.

I knew those skinny little green beings would grow up to be big tall trees one day. I remember thinking that I would need to replant them somewhere with more space once they were big enough…I used to daydream about the spots were they would eventually live. They deserved lots of room for their leaves, roots and eventually…their own little acorns. I visualized the birds that would perch on their branches, the woodpeckers that would pound on their trunks. Even at that very young age I understood the value of a tree.

One day while I was playing in a different part of the yard, a neighborhood friend came over to see my sister. She brought with her a younger sister, a toddler, complete with random bursts of energy and that zig zag pattern while running that seems to only make sense to very small children. At first I didn’t really think much about their visit…I was minding my own business conducting my very important play activity (I think I might have been drawing on the sidewalk with chalk or something) but then I saw her….she was walking around with no apparent purpose and getting dangerously close to my little green babies! My heart started racing, I dropped my chalk, stood up and just as I was starting to charge over she did the unthinkable. Her little tiny toddler feet stepped on my precious herd of acorn saplings! Like the giant marshmallow man in the original Ghostbuster movies she smashed around smiling, pounding her feet while giggling, seemingly oblivious to the damage she was causing below. I’m not exactly sure what I did next. But I was very angry and I was crying and I’m pretty positive I never spoke to her or her sister again. Obviously this little girl was a toddler…a child…looking back I realize she didn’t understand that what she was doing was wrong or the devastating affect it would have on me. She didn’t mean to kill my acorn babies….but the result was the same. Their lives were over and I never tried to plant anymore acorns.

Fast forward to last year when I met a sloth named Milena.

She arrived at the rescue center where I worked with a day old baby attached to her belly. She had just given birth at a dog and cat vet clinic after having been knocked out of a tree. The tree she was living in had literally been…cut…down…with her still in it! The people who cut the tree down didn’t intend to hurt Milena that day…they didn’t intend to break her arm….they didn’t intend to cause premature labor for her unborn baby…in fact they are the ones who took her to the vet clinic, having realized their mistake and hoping to help her. They didn’t intend to hurt any sloths that day…they just wanted to cut down a tree.

Milena had a presence about her…she commanded respect. She was a wild, gorgeous creature that was happy to mind her business so long as you minded yours as well. She had her baby and she was so good with him, even with only one working arm…she would hold him in place while he tried to nurse, she shared leaves with him and nuzzled his little face. When it was time to rest she would curl up around him keeping him warm and protected. She was his world and she wasn’t going to stop being his mom just because her world was drastically altered. After a series of x-rays we realized that she was going to need surgery to have any chance of healing her broken arm and returning to the wild with her baby following behind. Driving her to San Jose for surgery was no easy task. Maneuvering through that crazy traffic is stressful enough alone, but when you’re caring precious cargo it makes you want to yell out the window at everyone whizzing past, “Be careful! Don’t you dare hit me!” I now understand the motivation behind the creation of those “baby on board” signs.

Luckily her surgery was a success and we were even able to keep the baby on her for the entire procedure so that they were never separated.

In the first few weeks post surgery we were very hopeful. Things were looking up for Milena and her baby. It was a lot of hard work and sleepless nights. I was having to supplement the baby with goats milk because he wasn’t gaining weight on his own with just Milena’s milk. It was hardly a surprise considering everything they had both been through. I was even starting to gain Milena’s trust. She would let me hold her to take her outside for bathroom visits, take her baby for feedings and bring him back….she even started to enjoy me grooming her and helping to remove extra ear wax!

Don’t get me wrong…she was a WILD animal and if given the chance she would have climbed up into the forest canopy without even looking back. But she made the best out of a terrible situation and during the process we both made a new friend. She knew the difference between me and other people. When I walked up to her and said hello, she looked over for me like she knew I was bringing her a special treat. Her favorite food, young cinnamon leaves, were almost always in my hand and I used to love watching her frantically try to get them in her open mouth…like she had never eaten before and she was starving…basically the same face I make while eating nachos.

Eventually her baby passed away. This whole ordeal was too much on his tiny little body and he was surely born with complications like unhealthy/underdeveloped lungs. Losing him was tough…seeing them together was SO amazing, probably some of the most beautiful moments I will ever witness…were their interactions together. I was worried Milena would be depressed, so I never let her forget that she still had me and that we would keep fighting until her arm was healed and she was back out into the forest. I was so determined that she was going to be free again one day…able to make more babies. But strangely…her arm wasn’t healing. It had been three months since her surgery and her arm was still painful and the X-rays showed the bone was not making enough progress. Finally through some research and comparison with human studies, we realized that her body was rejecting the metal pins placed during surgery. We pulled the pins out and tried applying a regular cast…going back to square one to see if conventional methods would heal the bone.

Immediately after pulling the pins she felt SO much better…this made me hopeful…maybe luck was finally on her side? She was more active and her arm was less swollen. However, after a few weeks with the regular cast, it became clear that she still wasn’t healing. X-rays showed that the damage to her bones was too severe and she was never going to completely heal. Unfortunately the only choice left was to amputate her arm. The day of her amputation surgery…I couldn’t even watch…I was too sad because I knew that this was the beginning of the end for her. How could she be released with only one arm? If she had to spend her life in captivity…there was no way she would survive…her spirit was too strong to be kept in a cage. I visited her every day after her surgery. Bringing her her favorite treats, taking her out to trees to see if she wanted to climb. I was clinging to any shred of possibility that maybe with a lot of help and patience she could learn to live in the wild with only one arm. I was never going to give up on her. But to be honest…she never seemed like herself after the amputation. She had been climbing without a functional arm for months…but now that that dead weight was gone she wasn’t climbing well at all. Her balance was off and she just seemed depressed. I think losing her arm was the final straw. She died two weeks after her amputation. I was with her…holding her head and rubbing her ears. I hope she knew how much I loved her.

Milena lost her home, her baby, her arm, her freedom, and ultimately her life…all because we as a society do not understand the value of a tree. Often, we don’t understand or appreciate the value of most things. Why is it as adults we often crash through life like a toddler, destroying things in our path without a consideration as to how it affects others? We should know better by now. We can do better.

I will never forget Milena the sloth or her baby…and the value of their lives…or the value of a tree. Join me in the fight against forest destruction. Share this story and help me remind people to think before they cut. #ThinkBeforeYouCut

By Sam Trull

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Sloth Institute director Sam Trull to present “For the Love of Sloths” Thurs, April 21, 7 pm

Sam Trull — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 18:43:03 +0000

Presentation followed by book sale and signing of Trull’s “Slothlove,” plus Living Conservatory tour

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.

Hours: Mon.- Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun., noon-5 p.m.

Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the Web at www.naturalsciences.org.

Emlyn Koster, PhD, Director; Susan Kluttz, Secretary, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; Pat McCrory, Governor.

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First Grade Class “Adopts” Sloths to Teach Rainforest Conservation

Sam Trull — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 12:34:58 +0000

The Sloth Institute announces the Elementary School Sloth Challenge, inspired by Ms. Megan Yang, 1st grade teacher at West Point Elementary in Surprise, Arizona. Ms. Yang believes in teaching students at a young age about conservation. “I am using the “adoption” of a sloth as a way to educate students about sloths as well as rainforest conservation. I am hoping by “adopting” Chuck, this will help them become personally invested in rainforest conservation and teach them that if you love wildlife you should keep them in the wild and not as pets”, said Ms. Yang.

“We are so excited about what Ms. Yang is doing by inspiring her young students in the importance of the rainforest, conservation and helping with the message that while cute, these sloths are not meant to be pets and they belong in the rainforest. It is through education that we empower our youth to create action and awareness and long-term change”, remarked Seda Sejud, co-founder The Sloth Institute Costa Rica. “We hope other all elementary grade classes will join the challenge.”

Teachers and their classes can join the October “challenge” to honor Sloth International Day, by “adopting” a sloth and submitting an anti pet (sloth) trade slogan thereby bringing awareness to children about the importance of conservation and anti pet trade policies. See TSI’s Facebook page for more on the #elementaryslothchallenge. The class with the best anti pet trade slogan will win a 20 minute skype session with Sam Trull (featured in the recent PBS Special, “Natures Miracle Orphans”) and an orphaned baby sloth being prepared for release.

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Two orphaned hand raised sloths 1st step in their journey back home.. the big release, part 1.

Sam Trull — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 20:15:36 +0000

The time has come. Every time another sloth is rescued I make them a promise. For Kermie and Ellen.

I promised them that I would never stop trying to get them safely and responsibly released. Today we are fulfilling a HUGE part of that promise, what we are calling “the big release” and I couldn’t be more excited! A little over a year ago, together with Seda we founded The Sloth Institute (TSI).

Since origination, the exact vision of TSI has evolved based on resources and need but the main purpose has always been to increase knowledge and welfare for sloths. Our first project and goal has been to create an amazing release for the orphaned babies that I have spent the past three years of my life caring for. Seeing these tiny little creatures, recently orphaned, grow and learn is amazing…but then what? How do we get them back into the forest where they belong when they’ve learned most of what they know from humans? The answer is: we are not entirely sure…but what we are sure of…is that we have to try and that we will document every step of the way.

Today begins that process of returning Ellen and Kermie to the wild. They will be transferred to a large (6x6x6m) cage nestled in the beach front jungle of Tulemar’s maritime zone property located in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. While inside the cage Kermie and Ellen will have a chance to climb and explore while getting used to their new environment. After about a month or two, we will open the sloth sized door to the cage so that Ellen and Kermie are free to leave! They will still have access to the cage and food that we provide inside of the cage but they will finally get to decide if they want to be inside or not!

We hope, that over time they will gradually find more and more food and shelter outside of the cage and we can stop helping them…. but this will all be done at their pace and when they are ready. Additionally, both Ellen and Kermie are fitted with VHF tracking collars which will enable the TSI research team to track them no matter where they go in the jungle and ensure that they are ok and record their behaviors and food choices in the forest. While tracking Ellen and Kermie we will also take data on wild sloths in the same area to have a comparison of what Ellen and Kermie should be doing when outside of the cage.

As excited as I am for this next step for Ellen and Kermie…I am also very nervous. This could be a complete failure and they may never really learn how to live in the forest again. That is definitely my biggest fear and we truly have no idea how what will happen. The only thing I am sure of is that now they have a chance…and that we have literally done EVERYTHING we could possibly do to make it the best chance possible. Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us along the way! Please stay tuned for more updates as we go on this journey with Ellen and Kermie and the big release! #thebigrelease #helpusgobackhome #slothlove

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“Sharing is Caring”….& meeting Moe the sloth at Cincinnati Zoo”

Sam Trull — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 14:59:41 +0000

Sharing is Caring” – one of the first behaviors you are taught as a small child in pre-school. While a very relevant and great life lesson, my hunch is that pre-school teachers nail this phrase to the board to avoid fights and snotty tear-stained cheeks…not so much for the underlying greater value.

But when you think about it, sharing really IS caring. Caring about something bigger than yourself. This past December I traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio to participate in something much bigger than myself. In an attempt to share what knowledge I have accumulated over the past two years, I presented about sloth rehabilitation during the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) Symposium. In addition to speaking, I was also privy to many amazing talks ranging from how to build a homemade incubator to how to hand-raise, release and post-release monitor bobcats. The amount of knowledge in that conference room was both exciting and inspiring. Meeting people from across the US, I know I have made some lasting connections and I look forward to continuing to work with and share knowledge with other IWRC members. The night of the banquet I was honored with the presentation of the “2014 Susan M. Fosco Scholarship” which provided me with much needed financial assistance to attend the conference. Being one of those people who, “never wins anything” I felt very honored to receive such a special scholarship. Being presented with a fancy plaque at the banquet was pretty fun too!

Also while in Cincinnati, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Cincinnati Zoo’s very own sloth, “Moe”. Moe is a female adult Choloepus didactylus; the South American two-fingered sloth species. In addition to visiting with Moe I was also invited to speak about Sloth Rehabilitation to Zoo staff and volunteers in a brown bag seminar the day before the IWRC conference began. The Cinncinati Zoo staff came to my talk with great questions and before I knew it I had been talking for almost an hour and a half! It’s hard getting me to shut up once I start talking about sloths! I spent the rest of the day chatting with Moe’s keepers and meeting other zoo animals. Two days later, I went back to the Zoo again and was able to witness some amazing operant conditioning sessions. Not only is the Cincinnati Zoo committed to taking exemplary care of the animals in their collection, but they have also committed a large part of their budget to helping in-situ conservation efforts as well. Zoo visitors learn about how they can help animals in the wild, making Cincinnati Zoo animals true ambassadors to their counterparts living in their natural environments.

My trip to Cincinnati was short, but impactful. Having the opportunity to not only share knowledge with others in the same field, but also to meet my first American sloth…I feel truly inspired and re-committed to sloth conservation. There are so many people all over the globe working with sloths and wanting to learn more about them and help them in their native forests. I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what is possible and what can be learned about sloths and to be able to bring this passion to others reminds me of what sharing is truly about. #slothlove

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