In Costa Rica, a pioneering charity is helping vulnerable sloths that have lost their homes due to deforestation
Photos by SUZI ESZTERHAS
Shocking situation
The plight of this Hoffmann’s two-fingered sloth – one of two sloth species in Costa Rica – in the small town of Puerto Viejo is emblematic of the threats facing these slow-moving mammals. After its home tree was felled, it clambered along these power lines as it would use vines in a tropical forest – but had nowhere to go.
Fortunately, Rebecca Cliffe, founder of the Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo), relocated it to a safer wooded area. Others are not so lucky: hundreds of sloths are electrocuted each year on poorly insulated cables.
Family ties
A newborn brown-throated sloth clings to its mother’s chest for about six months, suckling and learning which leaves to eat. This female, named Esmeralda, lived wild. Many others have to adapt to urban environments as their tropical forest habitat becomes fragmented.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Suzi Eszterhas is a wildlife photographer who has worked with Rebecca Cliffe of the Sloth Conservation Foundation for over 10 years (SloCo; slothconservation.org).
Suzi is a trustee. Her pictures illustrate Sloths: Life in the Slow Lane (2017). See her work at: suzieszterhas.com.
Arm’s length
Rebecca measures the arm of a brown-throated sloth – twice as long at its legs, and equipped with three long fingers– before weighing it and noting other details. This is part of her ongoing research investigating the physiology, behaviour, diet and ranges of urban sloths to see how they differ from their wild conspecifics, exploring the impacts of habitat loss.
On the fence
Rebecca removes a Hoffmann’s two-fingered sloth from a vine-clad fence after its home tree was cut down. This species has sharp pseudo-canine teeth and can be ferocious, so extreme care is needed. Becky was able to safely relocate this one to a new home in the wild.
Back on track
Rebecca fits a compact data logger to the back of a brown-throated sloth before releasing it. These small pieces of tech transmit a range of information daily – including distance travelled, home range size, food preferences and circadian rhythm – revealing new details about the lives of wild sloths, much of which has until now been a mystery.
Out of place
This brown-throated sloth, clinging to a pipe at a roadside fruit stand, was another made homeless by habitat loss. Thanks to SloCo’s awareness-building work, the owner contacted Rebecca, who arranged relocation by a local rescue centre. Sadly, such centres are kept busy in Costa Rica, where sloths are the most comm
