Oh sloths, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Sloths have always been my favorite animal and now they are enjoying unprecedented (and I am sure unwanted) attention. Sloths are becoming the ‘it’ pet for those who can afford them, but they are an endangered species and many fear that poachers looking to supply the North American market may further reduce their numbers.
Kristen Bell’s sloth-induced meltdown on the Ellen DeGeneres show has also catapulted these furry little fun balls to stardom. If you haven’t seen the video, you’re in for a treat!
I’m not surprised sloths are becoming rock stars of the animal world… they are amazing. Here are some cool facts about sloths:
- Sloths move so slowly, that they make excellent homes for other animals and organisms such as moths, beetles, cockroaches, ciliates, fungi, and algae
- Sloths eat mostly leaves, shoots and buds, but leaves are not that nutritious and take a long time to digest; in fact most sloth meals take more than a month to move through the whole digestive process
- Sloths move at a blinding pace of 4m (13 feet) per minute in a tree and 2m (6.5 feet) per minute on the ground
- Sloths only need to go to the bathroom once a week. They slowly climb down, dig a hole and then cover it up when they are done; very considerate!
- Since sloths spend so much time hanging upside down, their hair grows in the opposite direction to other mammals
Despite all that is amazing about sloths, they are exotic animals that require specialized care and nutrition. When you buy an exotic pet, you can’t be sure that it has not been illegally obtained. Exotic animals are often hunted in large numbers and many die during capture and in transit so only a few actually make it onto the market. If you love sloths too, consider donating to funds that help to protect these cuddly cuties and their natural habitats:
Save the Pygmy Sloths (PYGMIES!!! I didn’t know there were pygmies!)
And now, a sloth twin video!
Want to find your sloth name? Simply type your name into this site and they will tell you the secret name of your inner sloth. (Um…. Weird.)
If you need some good, slow-moving sloth karma, then ‘Like’ us on Facebook and get more good vibes than you can shake a sharp stick at!