Our Story
The Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo) was founded in 2017 by renowned sloth researcher Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, with a singular mission: to protect and preserve sloths in the wild.
With over 15 years of hands-on experience working directly with sloths, Dr. Cliffe has dedicated her life to understanding and conserving the world’s slowest mammals. Her extensive field research, combined with numerous scientific publications on the ecology, biology, genetics, and physiology of sloths, has positioned her as one of the leading experts in sloth behavior and conservation.
During her time in the field, Dr. Cliffe witnessed the mounting threats that wild sloth populations face—habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and the pressures of environmental change. She observed how wild sloth populations were declining without documentation, with regional extinctions occurring in areas where they were once plentiful. It became clear that while many organizations focused on rescuing sloths, little was being done to address the root causes of these issues in the wild. These experiences, coupled with her scientific insights, led Dr. Cliffe to establish SloCo—a foundation committed to developing long-term, innovative solutions that allow sloths to thrive in the wild.
Our Vision
We envision a future where sloths thrive in healthy, interconnected forests—a world where wildlife and humans coexist in harmony.
We believe that innovative, forward-thinking conservation strategies can bridge the gap between human development and the natural world, creating a mutually beneficial relationship where both sloths and people can live side by side.
Our Mission
Our mission is to develop sustainable, data-driven solutions that promote the peaceful coexistence of sloths and humans within a framework that prioritizes environmental protection, social responsibility, and long-term economic sustainability.
We conduct rigorous scientific research to deepen our understanding of the challenges facing wild sloth populations. Armed with this knowledge, we design and implement conservation approaches that have proven, measurable impact.
Our Why
Despite their iconic status, there is a significant lack of accurate data regarding the current status and abundance of sloths. Based on our 15 years of experience working with sloths in Costa Rica, the signs are deeply concerning. In areas where sloths were once plentiful, we have witnessed their populations vanish entirely over the past decade.
In Costa Rica alone, the human population has doubled in the past 40 years, and urban development has surged by 250%. Species like sloths and primates, which rely heavily on connected forest canopies, are especially vulnerable to this fragmentation. In Costa Rica’s Talamanca province, where we are based, urban sprawl has increased by 30% in just the past two years, with an estimated 3,000 sloths lost annually. Globally, 40% of all sloth species are now threatened with extinction.
Sloths play a critical role in maintaining the health of rainforest ecosystems. As herbivores, they help regulate the growth of specific plant species and contribute significantly to nutrient recycling.
They are also an integral part of the rainforest food web, serving as prey for iconic predators like harpy eagles, ocelots, and jaguars. The survival of sloths is crucial for maintaining the delicate ecological balance within tropical forests.
In addition, sloths serve as valuable indicators of forest health. Their survival is directly linked to canopy connectivity and their sensitivity to habitat disturbances. When sloths are thriving, it signals that other species dependent on the same forest conditions are also flourishing. By protecting sloths, we can drive broader conservation efforts that benefit entire ecosystems.
The Sloth Conservation Foundation is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation in the UK (Registered Charity Number 1170992), and we are a fiscally sponsored non-profit in the US through CAF America.
PLEASE NOTE: The Sloth Conservation Foundation is not a sanctuary or rescue center and is not open to the public. As a non-profit organization, we focus on the conservation and research of wild sloths, aiming to tackle the root causes of the problems they face in their natural habitats. Our ultimate goal is to prevent sloths from ever needing rescue by addressing the issues affecting their survival in the wild.
