Get ready for the ultimate showdown of sloth agility, strength, and—well—patience! The 9th Annual Sloth Ironman Games is back, and this year’s event promises to be more exciting than ever.
Hosted by the Toucan Rescue Ranch, this beloved competition is not just a fun way to celebrate our favorite slow-moving animals, but also an important fundraiser for the Saving Sloths Together (SST) program. All donations during the games will go towards helping sloths on their journey from rescue to rewilding.
Game Schedule 🏅
Set your alarms and mark your calendars for these can’t-miss events! All times are in Costa Rica time (GMT-6).
- October 20 @ 1:00 PM: Sloth Athlete Reveal
- October 21 @ 1:00 PM: 1-Meter Dash
- October 22 @ 1:00 PM: Hibiscus Eat-Off
- October 22 @ 5:00 PM: Half-Time Show – Featuring the Three-Fingered Sloth
- October 23 @ 1:00 PM: Strong Sloth Competition
- October 24 @ 1:00 PM: Poop-Off Challenge
- October 25 @ 1:00 PM: Championship Ceremony, LIVE on YouTube
Each of these exciting events will be streamed on Toucan Rescue Ranch’s Facebook and YouTube, so don’t miss the slow-motion action!
What Are the Sloth Ironman Games?
The Sloth Ironman Games is an annual sloth enrichment game series designed to highlight the skills of our rescued sloths while raising awareness and funds for sloth conservation. This year, four elite “slothletes” have been carefully selected to participate in a series of challenges that mimic their natural behaviors, such as eating, climbing, and even going to the bathroom! But don’t worry—the competition is entirely non-invasive. Our goal is to let the sloths do what they do best, while also inspiring support for their rewilding journey.
These challenges include:
- 1-Meter Dash: Who’s the fastest of them all?
- Hibiscus Eat-Off: Which sloth will munch its way to victory?
- Strong Sloth Competition: Time to see those muscles at work!
- Poop-Off Challenge: The ultimate test of sloth endurance!
The Purpose Behind the Games
While the Sloth Ironman Games are fun and playful, they serve a greater purpose. Each dollar raised through the event goes towards our Saving Sloths Together program, which focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sloths back into the wild. Whether it’s providing medical treatment, proper diets, or enrichment activities, every contribution helps these sloths on their journey back to the rainforest.
The games also give people a fun way to get involved in sloth conservation. You can root for your favorite sloth athlete (slothlete) and make donations in their name to help them score points and, ultimately, win the competition. But at the end of the day, the real winners are the sloths themselves, as all funds raised will support their care and rewilding efforts.
Sloth Ironman Game Rules 📝
To make sure your favorite slothlete wins, follow these simple game rules:
- Minimum Donation: You must donate a minimum of $5.00 to earn points for your chosen slothlete.
- How to Earn Points: Each dollar you donate adds 1 point to your sloth athlete’s score. For example, a $10 donation equals 10 points for your slothlete!
- How to Donate: Be sure to DEDICATE your donation to your chosen sloth (e.g., Pax) at checkout on the official MightyCause fundraiser page, so the points are correctly allocated.
The Point System
Not only will your donations earn points for your favorite sloth, but the slothletes will also earn points based on their performance in each event. Here’s how the scoring breaks down:
- 1st Place: 100 points
- 2nd Place: 75 points
- 3rd Place: 50 points
- 4th Place: 25 points
- Disqualification (DQ): 0 points
The slothlete with the most combined points from donations and events will be crowned the 2024 Sloth Ironman Champion on October 25th during our Championship Ceremony, which will be streamed live on YouTube!
Why We Need Your Help
Sloths face many threats in the wild, including electrocution from powerlines, deforestation, and illegal pet trade. Many sloths arrive at Toucan Rescue Ranch injured, orphaned, or displaced, requiring extensive care before they can return to the wild.
That’s where the Saving Sloths Together program comes in. Since 2017, Toucan Rescue Ranch and The Sloth Institute Costa Rica have partnered to improve the rescue, rehabilitation, and release process for sloths across Costa Rica. With your support during the Sloth Ironman Games, we can continue providing the specialized care these sloths need, from medical treatment to enrichment, so they can eventually return to their natural habitat.
How to Get Involved
You can support the slothletes and our Saving Sloths Together program in several ways:
- Donate: Every dollar counts and helps your favorite sloth earn points!
- Tune In: Watch the games live on Facebook and YouTube, and cheer for your chosen sloth.
- Spread the Word: Share the games with friends and family and encourage them to donate as well.
The Sloth Ironman Games aren’t just a competition—they’re a chance for you to directly impact the future of these incredible creatures. Every donation, every cheer, and every social media share brings us one step closer to giving sloths the second chance they deserve.
Let the Games Begin! 🎉
So, who will take the crown in the 2024 Sloth Ironman Games? Will it be a swift victory in the 1-Meter Dash or a surprise triumph in the Poop-Off Challenge? No matter what, every sloth athlete is already a winner because they’re closer to returning to the wild.
Thank you for supporting this fun and important event. Together, we can ensure that sloths get the care they need and the chance to live freely in their natural habitat.
Let the (slow) games begin, and may the best sloth win! 🏅💚
Be a part of the action!
Grab your LIMITED edition 2024 Sloth Ironman Games t-shirt and show your support. Every purchase, plus any added donations from this fundraiser, goes directly to helping rescue and rehabilitate sloths at Toucan Rescue Ranch. Don’t miss out—this gear won’t last long!
