Rehabilitating Baby Sloths in Costa Rica - 360 | National Geographic

Ah, we started the chicken rescue ranch in 2004 to really be proactive and focus on the toucans that were in the pet trade. The culture in Costa Rica was always that animals could be caught and they could be kept as pets. Fortunately, Costa Rica changed those laws and said no wild animal can be a pet.

We've diversified into, you know, all kinds of different wildlife really because of the demand that was put upon us. Costa Rica is just an incredible country; the forest is very much alive, but this life is under threat. The wildlife is impacted because of the plantations, because of farming, and because of human encroachment.

In a year, we'll receive approximately 450 animals, and of that, roughly 40 will be released. The ones that aren't released are animals with injuries or they're also animals that psychologically can't go out because they're too imprinted on humans.

[Music] During the last five years, we've been receiving so many more sloths, especially baby sloths. Right now, we have 15 in our care, and it's so difficult to be thinking about, okay, what do these sloths need to get them back into the wild?

It's so rewarding to see, you know, the progress that they make. The trust that those animals give us is just amazing.

[Music] As they get better, they're letting us know, "Hey, I'm getting better!" And by the time they're like bumping, you know, on the side of the cage, or like saying, "You know, I'm ready to be out," that's like pure joy for us because we know that we've accomplished what

[Applause] The long-term perspective for rescuing animals in Costa Rica is actually really helpful because we're doing the education. We're setting the foundation with the wildlife department, with the children in the schools.

We're facing all these threats right now as a planet, and there's going to be lots of changes and lots of impact. The more people that we can get involved in this type of work, the better it's going to be in the long run for everybody. Okay, you.