Saving Sloths Together Program
In 2017 Toucan Rescue Ranch and The Sloth Institute came together to form Saving Sloths Together (SST), a Costa Rica-wide project seeking to provide greater opportunity for sloths in need. By combining each organization’s skills and knowledge we are able to improve the process of sloth rescue, rehabilitation, and release in Costa Rica.  This allowed both organizations to utilize scientific expertise, dedication, passion, and decades of experience to provide the very best program for every sloth needing help at gaining a second chance at a life in the wild.
Sloths need Help
As humans move further into the forests and coastlines, destroying natural habitats, sloths have been negatively impacted and greater numbers are dying. Couple this with the growing social media trends and publicities, sloths are faced with more threats to their survival than ever before.
How SST will Help
The SST Program will be able to combine the expertise of both TRR and TSI to ensure that sloths both injured and orphaned will be given the best chance at being released. By donating, your dollar will directly contribute to this important program.
Enhancing the Program
TRR already has a successful hard release program where we release rehabilitated wild adult sloths back into their habitat. However, with this new program we will be able to introduce more sloths into a soft release program.
What Dangers Sloths Face
Sloths are rescued for various reasons. Common incidents include electrocution from power lines, car accidents, dog attacks, and human encroachment such as deforestation and the illegal pet trade. Oftentimes, baby sloths suffer from injuries and the loss of their mother from such incidents. Babies are often found abandoned by their mothers for unknown reasons (likely the mother was involved in an accident). This is when the Saving Sloths Together project by TRR and TSI takes action. Together, we rescue hurt sloths and give them a second chance at life with the goal of releasing them back into the wild once they “graduate” from the rehabilitation and release program.
Why Sloths Need Help
Historically, sloths have been a highly successful arboreal species however, growing human interactions and development in Costa Rica have made it difficult for them to thrive.  As humans move further into the forests and coastlines, destroying natural habitats, sloths have been negatively impacted and greater numbers are dying. Couple this with the growing social media trends and publicities and sloths are faced with more threats to their survival than ever before. While Costa Rica sloths are not yet ENdangered, they are IN danger and need our help before it’s too late.
Rewilding Orphaned Sloths
A unique component of the SST project is the ability to take a hand-raised, orphaned sloth and give it a second chance at being wild. The concept of releasing captive-raised sloths back into the wild is a feat that has rarely been done with success. However, with the combined expertise, this program is eager to prove that sloths don’t belong in cages but #backinthetrees because they were all #borntobewild.
Your gift goes beyond the dollars and cents of your donation. With your support, you will give orphaned, hand-raised, and rehabilitated sloths a second chance at life in the wild. It is our goal that together, every rescue call and abandoned individual found will be returned to a natural life back among the trees. Saving Sloths Together provides a future not just for the sloths who go through the program, but for the health and understanding of the species nationwide. Your donation allows us to dedicate the time, medical and expert care to one of the most charismatic species in Costa Rica, the sloth. Help the Saving Sloths Together project with TRR and TSI by donating to the SST fund! Click the DONATE NOW button.
