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.