Tiki, Tender, and Becky
Tender is no ordinary sloth. He’s a young, sweet explorer living near a beach bar in Costa Rica’s South Caribbean. But his story starts with someone equally extraordinary: his mother, Tiki.
Years ago, when Dr. Cliffe was just “Becky” – a PhD student navigating the wild jungles of Costa Rica and working on her thesis about sloths – she became a regular at this beach bar, building friendships with the owners and locals. It was during this time that she first met Tiki.
Tiki seemed completely at ease in the lively buzz of the beach bar, roaming the property seemingly unbothered by the music and laughter of the humans nearby, including Becky, who spent many evenings there with friends, unwinding after long days in the field monitoring wild sloths in the jungle.
Tiki, the beach bar sloth
Tiki would often be seen climbing past the tables, outside the kitchen, through the outdoor shower, along the sidewalk, and even using the hanging string lights as a path between trees.
As Becky observed Tiki navigating this oddly un-wild environment, a question began to form: What impact does urbanization have on sloths like her?
Sure, spotting wildlife while sipping a cocktail is a highlight for any visitor—but what does it really mean for the animals who share these spaces with us? That spark of curiosity lit the way for what would eventually become the Urban Sloth Project.
Fast forward to today
Becky is now a Doctor of Science, and Tiki still calls Tasty Waves Cantina her home. Along the way, she had an adorable baby named Tender. Tender grew up on the property of the beach bar, and once he was old enough, we fitted him with a collar to track his movements and activity.
And Tender is already making moves – literally. Just a few weeks ago, he surprised us by venturing nearly 300 meters north of Tasty Waves, exploring a brand-new patch of forest.
Will he settle in this new area (which happens to be home to another of our monitored sloths, Luiza)? Or will he keep heading north, following in the footsteps of Nacho, another Tasty Waves sloth who once made his way toward downtown? Is Tender simply exploring as a young adult, or has he decided he’s ready to leave bar life behind? Only time will tell, and we’re excited to find out.
The Urban Sloth Project: New Findings
This is exactly what the Urban Sloth Project is all about: understanding how our rapidly changing world affects sloths and finding ways to improve conservation efforts that foster coexistence between humans and wildlife.
This year, our efforts began to pay off when we learned something game-changing. Our data is showing us that sloths in urban areas are facing increased challenges because they lack access to cool, shaded microclimates. These tiny canopy havens help sloths regulate their body temperature and thrive.
Armed with this knowledge, we are now adjusting our efforts: planting more trees that not only provide food but also create these critical microclimates. It’s a simple but powerful way to help sloths adapt to the ever-changing environment.
Every action we take – from monitoring sloths like Tender to installing canopy bridges and planting trees – is thanks to your support. Be part of this journey!
