Costa Rica - Puerto Viejo - 17th October 2010

OK we've posted a few photos of some sloth antics but lets look what the volunteers do besides taking photos of sloths.

The Sloth Sanctuary runs on offical Sloth Time and the start of the Sloth Day for volunteers begins at 0600hrs; in these tropical climes there is good day light from 0530hrs.

There 2 species of sloth, Choloepus (two fingered forelimbs) and Bradypus (or three fingered forelimbs). Both species have three fingered hind limbs.

The first task is to clean and tidy each cage. These are large enough to allow each sloth easy movement and exercise, with a platform to sleep on and poles to exercise and gain access to the floor to allow a sloth to do what a sloth needs to do (about once a week at least).

Janelle cleaning Nala's cage, and tidying her blanket...

 Once the cleaning and tidying is done, we start sorting out the first feed of the day, string beans and berros. Berros are a non native green crop introduced by chinese immigrants (it's watercress really) despite being non native Sloths love them. The berros however need to be checked for infestation by small snails, poisonous to the Sloths.

...Siobhan sorting berros, not even stopping to pose...

...Vivian and Janelle sorting berros...

Once the berros leaves have been sorted and washed a portion of beans and berros is laid out for each mature resident Choloepus sloth. The Bradypus Species are fed Cecropia leaves (this is native to CR) and these are again checked for foreign bodies and unwanted insects and washed.



Once each portion has been set out the volunteers distribute the food and encourage the sloths to eat, although some require a little encouragement...

...whilst others do not, Pip and Poppy after 10 minutes frantic bean and berros  consumption.

 After this morning feed the volunteers get a break for breakfast (usually around 0800hrs ish).

After breakfast we return to pick up the babies for a "sloth walk" through the woods. This is an enrichment exercise to stimulate the sloths and get them used to the leaved plants, smells and sounds of the forest.

...Siobhan with Poco in the woods ....with his favourite soft toy...

The walking takes around 40 minutes including a play on the Jungle Gym...

.Now what do you want me to do? ..Stephanie doing her best refusal to move

 After walking the sloths,  volunteers get a rest until 1100hrs and then its time to peel and chip carrots and camotes (camotes are a type of sweet potato)...

...Janelle,Paula, Siobhan and Vivian, not even stopping to pose whilst cutting potatotes....

...Darren the camote chipper...

 By the time all the peeling and chipping is done its midday and time for dinner....this is a long break until 1400hrs. This allows time for the carrots and camotes to be bolied and softened, and for volunteers to catch up on some shuteye.
Once this has been done we dish out the sloths food onto plates...

...the blond bombshells plan their moves to hijack some food without the volunteers noticing....

With the plates filled with carrots, camotes and a little dogfood (cereal based). the second feed of the day can begin...

...Oona showing us how dinner is best consumed sloth styleeee...

This final feed of the day finsihes around three and the sloths are left in peace to enjoy and sleep off their energy.

Sloth food has been lovingly prepared and served with good humour all round by the following humans...

...from left to right...Vivian, Eva, Janelle, Siobhan ( at the front), Jan (behind Sio), Darren, Paula, and old red knees himself - Paul.