The Sloth Conservation Foundation

🚨 New Paper Published 🚨 Our latest study reveals troubling news: by the end of the century, climate change could make survival nearly impossible for some sloth populations. As temperatures rise, sloths—like reptiles—become hotter, and their metabolic rates increase. Highland sloths, adapted to cooler climates, are particularly vulnerable. They have thicker, darker hair (see slide 2), but as temperatures climb, their metabolism spikes rapidly. Unlike their lowland cousins (slide 3) they can’t depress their metabolism, and they’re running out of cooler places to go. With limited migration options, they’re stuck in shrinking high-altitude habitats. Protecting highland sloths is urgent. Preserving their habitats is essential to maintain the cooler microclimates they need to survive. But if we don’t slow climate change, these sloths may have nowhere left to go. To truly protect them, we must address the root cause: climate change. Governments must act swiftly to honor international climate agreements, like the Paris Agreement, and limit global warming. Without immediate action, no conservation effort will be enough to save these iconic creatures. Read the article and paper here: https://bit.ly/3Y13KFS Photos by

This week at SloCo update! In the end, we still had a great week! Despite starting Monday with part of our tree nursery destroyed, we got to see sloths while installing bridges and using them.

The Sloth Conservation Foundation Clarifies Misleading Reports on “Sloth Virus”. San José, Costa Rica – September 2, 2024 – The Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo) is addressing recent media reports about a so-called “sloth virus” that have caused unnecessary concern and confusion. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dnM5qQUy

Ok, let's talk about the "Sloth Virus". The terms "sloth virus" or "sloth fever" are completely misleading: The virus was found only ONCE in a single sloth back in 1967. The virus is actually called Oropouche and is transmitted by mosquitoes. A recent outbreak occurred in Cuba, where there are no sloths! A virology study in 2016 found NO EVIDENCE of the Oropouche virus in sloths in Costa Rica! Like many other tropical diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, the virus can cause fever, headaches, and body aches, and it is rarely deadly. The term "sloth virus" is purely sensationalist and fearmongering, and it can harm conservation efforts. We urge media outlets to use scientifically accurate terminology when reporting on such matters to prevent the spread of misinformation. Misleading headlines not only cause unnecessary alarm but also divert attention from vital conservation work aimed at protecting species genuinely at risk. P.S.: Increased urban development into areas that were once forests may also be contributing to new zoonotic outbreaks!

Tales From The Jungle: August is out! This month was unslothy! And we're closing it with the amazing report of the sloth mom with two babies, featuring this beautiful photo from Alonso Sánchez @alphonsr99 (thanks for sharing!). We also had some reports of sloths using canopy bridges (like the one @_i_barista_pikete_i_ sent!) , we installed new ones, planted over 200 trees, and we're happy to say that we removed an old Sloth Crossing canopy bridge (but there's a great reason for that!). Read the blog using the link in the first comment!

Sloth on the road, looming storm, and a newborn: the adventures of the sloth team during this crazy—yet typical—week!

Our weekly report is here! This week, we focused on tracking sloths, Dr. Cliffe returned from the UK after receiving the honorary Doctor of Science award, Tamara handled the feisty sloth Zeus, we faced some setbacks, and much more! P.S.: The sloth at the beginning is doing fine! You can see the full story of that sloth in our previous videos on ig!

Another weekly report from the field! Take a look at some of the highlights from the past seven days as our team continues to work on our mission to study and protect sloths in the wild!

We want to thank Daughters for Earth , an organization that supports conservation by funding women-led initiatives around the world, for providing us with a $15,000 grant to help us take our Connected Gardens Project to the next level! Thanks to this grant, we were able to hire our new manager for the project, Deily Mora, and with her addition to the team, we can now expand not only the capacity of our forest nursery but also extend our efforts beyond our region and start planning larger reforestation projects to regenerate more sloth habitats in the South Caribbean.

Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, founder and executive director of our organization, was awarded the honorary title of Doctor of Science by Swansea University in Wales in recognition of her groundbreaking work in research and conservation. Dr. Cliffe received her bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Manchester. She later earned her PhD in Bioscience from Swansea University, where she conducted the longest recorded study on wild sloth ecology. Honorary doctorate degrees celebrate exceptional accomplishments and contributions to society. The degree of Doctor of Science (DSc or ScD) is one of the Higher Doctorates. Congratulations, Dr. Becky!