Sloths
 [email protected] |  +506 2750-0710

There are six species of Sloth living in the world today, and Costa Rica is home to two of them: the Brown-Throated Three-Fingered Sloth (Bradypus variegatus), and Hoffman’s Two-Fingered Sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni).

Although there are similarities in their general appearance, they are very different in their anatomy, temperament and care needs. The Two-Fingered Sloth is nocturnal, meaning they are active a night. They have 2 'fingers' on their 'hands' and 3 'toes' on their 'feet'. They are often recognized for their pig-like nose with hair that tends to be blond or brown. It is difficult to identify the sex of a wild Two-Fingered sloth from afar because their sexual organs are hidden within their fur.

The Three-Fingered Sloth is diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They have 3 'fingers' on their 'hands' and 3 'toes' on their 'feet'. They are often recognized for their 'pura vida smile', a black marking across their mouth as well as a black 'mask' around their eyes. Their hair is salt-and-pepper colored meaning that it is black, grey and white.

While they have internal sexual organs you can actually determine the gender of a sexually mature Three-Fingered sloth by a very distinct marking on their back. A juvenile male or adult female Three-Fingered sloth will have a white patch of hair with a vertical black line through the middle. An adult male Three-Fingered sloth will have an orange patch of hair with a brown line running through it.

JRC Statistics - 3 fingers

Sloth Statistics

JRC Statistics - 2 Fingers

Sloth Statistics

Admission Reasons - 3 fingers

Sloth Statistics

Admission Reasons - 2 Fingers

Sloth Statistics

Though both species of sloth are in the Xenarthran family, they are only very distantly related to each other. Surprisingly, they are also related to armadillos and anteaters!

At the JRC we receive over 300 sloths each year. From adults who may have been electrocuted on a badly insulated power line, hit by a car or attacked by dogs to new born babies who have been orphaned, their mother having been killed due to the same reasons above.

From baby to release, a sloth might stay at the center for up to 2 years and we structure a growing infant sloth’s time at the center as 'kindergarten', 'middle school', 'high school' and finally 'sloth university' which helps them develop together and learn the skills essential for survival in the wild.

We are also home to a number of permanent residents whose injuries are too severe for them to be able to survive in the wild if they were released (e.g after the loss of a limb).

After their release, they are monitored for a period using radio collars to ensure that they are coping with their new independence.

There are a lot of myths about sloths including how long do they sleep and how docile and friendly they are. Come on a tour at the Jaguar Rescue Center and find out which are true, which are false, as well as lots more fascinating facts from our knowledgeable guides. As an added bonus, by just walking or cycling around the local area, you are likely to see sloths hanging out in their natural environment, where they belong.

baby sloth puerto viejo limon

sloths Costa Rica

Articles about Sloths

Tree Habitats Play a Critical Role for Sloths

Tree habitats are seen as a critical resource for sloths because they facilitate the ease of feeding...

The Grounded Slumber: Sloth's Rare Descents

Sloths are the most graceful tree-dwellers. Sloths' slow glides across the canopy are famous, but na...

The Jaguar Rescue Center's Pilot Study on the Reproductive Physiology of Two-Toed Sloths

There is concern about the decline of the two-toed sloth population (Choloepus hoffmanni) in recent ...

Sustainable Sloths: A Journey into Responsible Tourism and Sloth Watching

Among the branches of lush tropical landscapes, where time appears to slow down, lives a fascinating...

Legends and Lore: The Enigmatic World of Sloths Unveiled

Sloths, those wonderful slow-moving arboreal creatures with lovely smiles, have captivated the human...

The Journey to Independence: When Sloths Part Ways with Mom

From an early age, sloths—those charming animals seen in treetops—set out on an intriguing journey...

The Speaker Method: Wildlife Conservation Game Changer at Our Rescue Center

Declines in wildlife species and individual populations in recent years have caused alarm and highli...

Symbiotic Harmony: Algae and Moths in Sloths

The sloth is the star of a fantastic ecological dance that takes place high up in the tree canopy of...

Enigmatic World of Sloth Reproduction: What We've Discovered So Far

Sloths, with their languid movements and seemingly perpetual states of relaxation, are among the mos...

Unlocking the Slow Mystery: How Far Does a Sloth Travel Daily?

When we think of animals in motion, our minds often go to the nimble, nimble creatures of the animal...

Make your Donation

Make your Donation and allow us to help as many wildlife species as possible.


Want to stay in touch?

Click on the button below and subscribe to our updates. We’ll make sure we let you know about all the latest news and events at the Jaguar Rescue Center.

  Subscribe Now!