10 Big Facts About Giant Ground Sloths

Today, the six living species of sloths are usually found dangling from tree branches, or going viral on YouTube. But sloths used to be a lot more diverse—and a lot bigger. The extinct ground sloths pursued all sorts of different lifestyles and came in just about every imaginable shape and size. Some were cow-like grazers; others might have been accomplished burrowers; and, believe it or not, a few even dined beneath the ocean waves.


To read more on this story, click here: 10 Big Facts About Giant Ground Sloths

Adorable Frightened Sloth Rescued by Transit Police in Ecuador

Transit police in Ecuador noticed this sloth struggling to cross Quevedo's recently opened highway. Officer Aguayo stopped his patrol car to go check on the 'oso perezoso,' as they're known in the area. That translates to 'lazy bear.'

The sloth was taken to a veterinarian who specializes these types of creatures. The little guy was determined to be OK and taken back to its habitat.

After the sloth was found, checked out and released, the executive director of the Ecuador Transit Commission gave order that all animals found on streets and highways have to be immediately attended to.

Rescued From the Illegal Exotic Pet Trade, Vish the Sloth Gets a Happy Ending

Vish is a three-month-old sloth who was confiscated by Peruvian authorities when he was found being kept (illegally) as a pet in the city of Tarapoto in the Amazon region of San Martin. Sloths are extremely sensitive wild animals that should never be kept as pets, but the illegal wildlife trade is rife in the area.

Illegal markets act as a conduit for both live and dead animals captured from the forests. Monkeys, coatis and birds are common victims of the exotic pet trade in Peru. Tragically, these babies are often tied up next to the carcasses of their dead family members whose bodies will be sold as “bushmeat.” Many are not even weaned and are too young to survive without their mothers.

To read more on this story, click here: Rescued From the Illegal Exotic Pet Trade, Vish the Sloth Gets a Happy Ending