Toucan Rescue Ranch Blog
High Schooler Sloths go to College
Since Toucan Rescue Ranch’s humble beginnings our motto has always been: Rescue. Rehabilitate. Love. Liberate. An axiom that was truly felt on November 9. It was this day that we loaded eight sloths into a car and drove them to their new home – The Release Site. Accompanied by Founder Leslie Howle, Veterinarian Janet Sandi […]
Idaho Girl Finds Paradise
Howdy! I am the Release Site Coordinator at Toucan Rescue Ranch’s Release Site located in Sarapiqui de Heredia, Costa Rica. I’m from Sandpoint, Idaho, a little town located in the Idaho Panhandle, nestled between the Selkirk and Cabinet mountain ranges, alongside Lake Pend Oreille, not far from the Canadian border. I’m happiest when I am […]
Esmeralda’s Rehab Journey
I happened upon Esmeralda in my first week at the Toucan Rescue Ranch (TRR). She was clumsy and uncoordinated- the kind of animal I’m normally drawn to- so I instantly felt connected to her. As time went on, I learned she had come from the illegal pet trade, but there wasn’t much else known about her history. […]
The Sloth Journals
Age: ~ One year and nine monthsPlace of Origin: GuapilesCurrent Weight: 2.5 kgNicknames: Chai Picante, NosferatuSpecial Talents: Adventuring, sleeping like a vampire Chai is the eldest of the high school kids (perhaps his size alone being the giveaway). The black coloration of his limbs and body and his habit of sleeping like a vampire give him […]
Tabu the Endangered Oncilla
The Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) sometimes referred to as a tiger cat, is one of the smallest felid species in the Americas. Their coat is typically a light brown colour with dark brown/black splotches as such they are often mistaken for Margays or Ocelot although they are considerably smaller weighing on average 1.5 to 3 kg. […]
Why Enrichment is SO Important
[In the picture above. Pablo, a volunteer, offers Izzy a customized paintbrush so she can become her very own Picasso.]The happiest animal is a free animal. The Toucan Rescue Ranch (TRR) and everyone that works here truly believe that. The goal of our organization is to keep animals free. The bulk of our animals arrive […]
A Fiery-Billed & Collared Aracari
In my opinion, working at the Ranch is a big responsibility and also a big pleasure. Seeing an animal grow stronger each passing day and recuperate from a bad situation is definitely a calling. This is what happened with two of our residents, the collared aracari and the fiery billed aracari. The collared aracari that […]
The Sloth Journals
Age: ~ 1-year, 9-months (slightly younger than Chai)Place of Origin: CartagoCurrent Weight: 1.4 kgNicknames: Tito, TotoroSpecial Talents: EatingLevel of Fluffiness: 10/10 Toffee is by far the fluffiest sloth at the ranch. One would imagine that she is the heaviest among the babies. It may appear so when you see her eating more than the other […]
Izzy Makes a New Friend
It’s difficult to not fear monkeys after being chased down by a group of macaque monkeys at the tender age of seven and, then again at the age of 20, being trapped in a bathroom by a large male patiently waiting for me outside the door. Needless to say, I’ve been traumatized by monkeys and held […]