r/sloths

OC by able6 (me)

I got to feed and pet a sloth today!!!

best birthday present to myself! got to feed larry the sloth today!!

Frankie's got Hugos jacket on and can't resist being a goof throwing up west side for Portland rep.

This little guy was wandering past my porch, going from one tree to another, here in the jungle of Playa Negra de Talamanca, in Costa Rica. I often share some of the sloths that visit us, and today, I thought I'd share him, along with some interesting info about baby 3-toed sloths.

These babies come into the world, ready! They're born with a full set of teeth (16-18 in total) and they never stop growing. Their teeth have no enamel, and are basically shaped like pegs. These pegs get worn down with their diet, but they never get cavities. They just continually regenerate in length throughout their lives. They're born with white teeth, but they quickly turn grey and then black from the pigment in the tough leaves in their diet. They do nurse for about 3-5 months, but even within the first week, they're already learning what plants they can eat, as many tropical plants have toxic leaves. They quickly decipher which plants are good for them by sampling the juices and bits and pieces from their mothers lips. By weeks 3-5, they're eating full leaves, alongside their mothers, as well as nursig througout the day in small increments, as the mother sloth produces milk on demand.

They're also able to hold their full weight with just one or two paws, immediately after birth! It's not really strength, it's actually their tendon. They have specialized tendons in their arms that acty as a clamp when weight is put on them, such as hanging upside down. They automatically lock into place, and it takes no energy to maintain the position. This lock is so compl;etely locked, that even if a sloth has died, they remain in the same place. If the baby did happen to fall, it could cause serious injury. It's also very intensive energy-wise for the mother to go down and bring the baby back up to the canopy. It does of course happen from time to time, but the babies make such a loud screaming noise (similar to a human infant in sound, actually) that the mother can easily find them.

The pair stick together for up to a year, before the young sloth is fully independent. They are gifted the land from their mother, so they know the environment and the plants in the area. The mother goes on to find a new territory, and to begin all over again.

Last Saturday, our logistics coordinator, tree planter, and general handyman, Mariano, got married, and the wedding couldn't have been more Costa Rican and sloth-themed!

First, it was raining. Then, right in the middle of the celebration, a wild two-fingered sloth was happily feeding just outside the venue, much to the delight of the guests, with all of Team Sloth there to witness it!