Sloths abroad and while traveling: are they dangerous, where do you encounter them, where can you see them?

What is a sloth?

• Sloths (known as *oso perezoso* in Spanish) are leaf-eating mammals related to anteaters, found in the tropical regions of Latin America.
• They are perfectly adapted to a slow-paced lifestyle: they eat very little, digest their food slowly, and remain nearly invisible to both predators and tourists.

Are sloths dangerous?

• Sloths are slow, not lazy. There is no need to run away if you encounter one.
• Touching a sloth is primarily dangerous for the animal itself, as the resulting stress can be life-threatening.
• However, a sloth’s claws and bite can cause serious bacterial infections.

What should you do if you encounter a sloth?

• If you come across a sloth during a jungle trek, observe it quietly from a distance. Do not use a camera flash, avoid blocking its path, and do not try to attract its attention by making noise.
• If you see a sloth crossing the road, and it is safe to stop and get out of your vehicle, you can help guide other road users around it.
• Because sloths are slow, and therefore easy to capture, they are frequently exploited as tourist attractions. While their posture and seemingly permanent smile might make them appear relaxed, taking a selfie with you is definitely not on their bucket list. Please do not support illegal wildlife trafficking or abduction by paying 'owners' for the chance to be photographed with a sloth.
• What should you do if you find an orphaned sloth? The mother is usually on her way to her young, but because she moves so slowly and is so well-camouflaged, you might easily overlook her.

Where can you see sloths in the wild?

• Your best chance of spotting sloths is in protected natural areas and nature reserves containing tropical forests.
• Costa Rica: a traveler who doesn’t see a sloth in Costa Rica is probably a sloth themselves…
• Panama, Ecuador, and Brazil also offer various eco-lodges and hiking trails where you have a good chance of encountering sloths.
• In Cartagena, Colombia, you can spot sloths in the trees within the city’s 'Parque Centenario'.

Where can you volunteer or complete an internship working with sloths?

• In Costa Rica and Panama, there are several wildlife rescue centers that frequently take in and care for orphaned or injured sloths.
• In Ecuador, for example, you could look into organizations like Merazonia.