The days include an innovative puppet theatre and the distribution of activity books and posters.

In addition, environmental education activity days have now been carried out in seven of the local communities. The majority of the field team are from the local communities, and the project maintains very close links with the villages on the coast of Panama nearest to Escudo.Ĭollaborations with other NGOs and community organisations have resulted in five successful workshops within these communities these workshops are forums to explore and discuss the sustainable use of Escudo’s resources while maintaining local livelihoods. We have also put radio collars and GPS backpacks on the sloths to help us find out how large an area each individual needs and which parts of the island they use in different seasons. Transects are walked through the mangroves and forest, where the team record the number of sloths and other important data on their activity and habitat use. The field team, led by former EDGE fellow Diorene, visit Escudo twice a year to monitor the pygmy sloth population. This project seeks to address the threats facing the pygmy sloth, while helping to ensure the sustainable livelihoods of the Ngobe Bugle people. Historically there has been little conservation attention or support for the pygmy sloth and the island habitat it depends on. There is also a looming threat of large-scale tourism as the number of visiting holiday-seekers is rapidly increasing. The numbers of seasonal residents are growing, increasing the pressure from small scale logging, fishing and littering. The island is uninhabited, but there are seasonal residents that temporarily live on the island: indigenous fishermen and occasional tourists.

The island is the only land mass in the 41,596 ha Escudo de Veraguas-Dego Protected Sanctuary and is a part of the natural heritage of the local Ngobe-Bugle people.Īlthough Escudo is protected, its natural resources may legally be utilised by local communities. The Critically Endangered pygmy sloth is only found on Escudo de Veraguas, a tiny island off the east coast of mainland Panama. Our long term aim is to establish and implement a participatory management plan that engages all stakeholders in the conservation of Escudo and the pygmy sloth. To ensure the conservation of the species, it also carries out educational programmes and workshops to increase local awareness, enhance support for conservation, establish sustainable resource management, and support local authorities in enforcing legal regulations. This project aims to improve our understanding of the pygmy sloth population and the threats to the species.

Winston came to ZooMontana in 2020 from facility in Michigan. He was quick to adapt to ZooMontana and is settling into his brand new habitat. He can be found indoors within the Zoo's Discovery Center, most often sleeping.The pygmy three-toed sloth was only recognised as a distinct species in 2001 Aims Click HERE to see Winston's Journey to ZooMontana! Click HERE for a Sloth Activity Sheet for Older Kids! Click HERE for a Sloth Activity Sheet for Younger Kids! Our Current Resident Winston: Male, Born Spring 2018 Sloths cannot pass gas, and therefore cannot eat foods such as cabbage and broccoli. As one of the world's slowest mammals, Hoffman's Two Toed Sloths spend the majority of their time hanging in trees of South and Central America sleeping to the tune of 15-20 hours per day! They are so slow in fact that moss and algae will grow on their fur, which serves as a great, natural camouflage. They have an incredibly powerful grip, allowing them to 'hang out' for long periods.ĭespite their incredible agility in the treetops, Sloths are defenseless on the ground. They will use their two long claws on each front leg to pull themselves across the ground. Should they encounter a predator, there is little they can do. However, amazingly enough, they are excellent swimmers. They will often fall from the treetops into waterways below to evade predators like the Harpy Eagle. Their long legs provide great tools for swimming. They are slightly larger than their three toed cousins.

Two toed sloth