While walking through the Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, I expected to see jaguars, but there were none to be found. I was far from disappointed, however. Instead, I saw about 50 different sloths and was fascinated with our tour guide, Becky. Becky Cliffe, also known as “Becky Sloth,” is like the Jane Goodall of sloths. She has dedicated her life to saving sloths, not just because they’re adorable, but because their numbers are decreasing at an alarming rate!
The Mission of the Jaguar Rescue Center
A baby monkey on the shoulder of a volunteer
The Jaguar Rescue Center holds many different animals, from alligators to wild cats and deer, but the sloths undoubtedly stole the show. Sloths are one of the cutest animals I’ve ever seen! The way they move, as if in slow motion, and their fuzzy little faces, make them seem so cuddly. But Becky reminded us that it is people that are causing them such danger. The goal of the Jaguar Sanctuary is always to rehabilitate the animals and return them to nature, and they can’t do that successfully if they get humanized. So, they try to hold them as little as possible.
Becky Cliffe has Big Dreams
Becky Cliffe explaining the life of sloths
Becky, originally from Manchester England, visited the sanctuary to research sloths and has basically never left. When she realized how little we know about sloths, she found her calling. Now, with a PHD in Bio Science, with a specialty in Sloths, she has started a non-profit organization, SloCo. The Sloth Conservation Foundation is committed to saving sloths in the wild and accomplishes its mission through research and conservation initiatives. Sloths are dying, and injured, at an alarming rate due to pesticides, deforestation, and the encroachment of humans into their natural habitat.
The Life of a Sloth
A baby sloth in the sloth nursery
Even though there’s still a lot we don’t know about sloths, like how long they usually live, there’s a lot we do know. They’re indigenous only to Central America and reside within about 17 degrees of the equator. Although typically called three-toed and two-toed sloths, all sloths have three toes; the real difference is the number of digits they have on the forelimb (the fingers).
Why Are Sloths Slow?
The jungle home of sloths in Costa Rica
Sloths are slow, but not lazy. They usually only sleep 8 to 10 hours a day, which is considerably less than many primates. They’re slow because it helps them survive. When everything else seems to be moving fast, moving super slow is a good strategy. It helps them hide from their predators. They have such a slow metabolism that they only defecate once a week, and sloths perform a little dance when they do. It’s actually not a dance; they use their backside to make an indention in the ground below the tree for their waste, and the result is a pretty entertaining performance.
Visiting the Jaguar Sanctuary, seeing sloths, and meeting Becky Cliffe were major highlights of my trip to Central America. Becky inspired me to do more to protect our planet and to care for the wild creatures on it. It’s up to us; only we can stop the deforestation and cruelty that is endangering these poor animals. If you would like to help, please donate to either organization and if you’re in the area, make sure you visit the Jaguar Sanctuary and say hello to Becky Cliffe.