Despite their iconic status, there is a significant lack of accurate data regarding the current conservation 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.

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.

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.