Tag

Sloths

All articles tagged with #sloths

world1 month ago•5 min saved

Orlando's Sloth World loses 31 sloths before debut

Thirty-one sloths planned for Orlando's Sloth World died before the exhibit opened: 21 died in December from cold conditions at a Florida warehouse, two arrived dead from Peru in February, and the remaining eight appeared emaciated and later died. Investigators cited heat, water and electricity failures and cages not meeting standards; the owner disputes the findings. Regulators are reviewing, a stop-work order has been issued at the warehouse, and it remains unclear if the attraction will open as planned.

via BBC|

#animal-welfare #florida #sloth-world

local1 month ago•4 min saved

Orlando Sloth World faces probe after 31 sloths die in warehouse

Florida wildlife officials released a report showing 31 sloths imported for the planned Sloth World attraction in Orlando died in a warehouse between December 2024 and February 2025, including 21 Guyana-sourced two-toed sloths believed killed by cold stun after heaters failed; 10 Peru-sourced sloths included two dead on arrival and others dying from poor health and emaciation. An August 2025 inspection found cages did not meet welfare standards; no fines were issued, but a verbal warning was given for a captive-wildlife discrepancy. The episode prompted calls to halt Sloth World's opening and broaden scrutiny of wildlife imports, while Sloth World denies misconduct and advocates push conservation-focused concerns.

via The Guardian|

#animal-welfare #florida #local

archaeology8 months ago•2 min saved

Ancient South American Tunnels: Mysteries Beyond Human and Natural Origins

Recent discoveries in Brazil reveal ancient tunnels not made by humans but likely created by giant extinct ground sloths, challenging previous assumptions about their origins and providing new insights into prehistoric animal behavior and human interactions during the Ice Age.

via LADbible|

#ancient-tunnels #archaeology #human-animal-interaction

science11 months ago•3 min saved

The Extinction of 20-Foot Sloths: An Incredible Story

Historically, sloths ranged from small tree-dwellers to massive ground-dwellers up to 20 feet tall, but most of the giant species went extinct around 15,000 years ago, primarily due to human hunting, with habitat changes also influencing their evolution. Today, only smaller, tree-dwelling sloths remain.

via Indian Defence Review|

#evolution #extinction #habitat

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Giant Sloths Once Roamed America Before Disappearing

Ancient sloths, some as large as elephants, once roamed America, but most went extinct around 15,000 years ago, likely due to human activity rather than climate change. Modern sloths are much smaller and better adapted to arboreal life, with only six species remaining, two of which are endangered. The study highlights the impact of humans on megafauna extinction and the importance of conservation.

via ScienceAlert|

#ancient-dna #extinction #human-impact

health1 year ago•3 min saved

"Brain-Attacking Virus from Sloths Sparks Human Health Fears"

Scientists are warning about the spread of the Oropouche virus, traditionally found in the Amazon rainforest and carried by sloths, which can cause symptoms similar to Dengue and potentially fatal brain diseases. The virus is spreading due to deforestation, urbanization, and climate change, with cases now reported in multiple South American countries and even Europe. Traditional mosquito control measures may be ineffective, and there is limited knowledge about the virus's transmission, raising concerns about future outbreaks.

via The Irish Sun|

#brain-disease #climate-change #health

childrens-books2 years ago•5 min saved

"Baby Sloth's Tumble in 'Mama in the Moon'"

Doreen and Brian Cronin, a couple who met through Facebook, have successfully collaborated on children's books, including "Mama in the Moon," inspired by a real-life story of a baby sloth falling from a tree. Their work emphasizes themes of comfort and safety, with Brian's illustrations using dark tones and bright highlights to create a soothing bedtime experience for children.

via NPR|

#childrens-books #childrens-literature #collaboration

science3 years ago•2 min saved

Unexplained Giant Caves Discovered

Giant tunnels discovered in South America were not made by humans or geological processes, but rather by extinct megafauna, likely giant sloths that lived 8-10,000 years ago. Over 1,500 tunnels made by the beasts were found in the Rio Grande do Sul area, with the longest stretching for 609 meters and standing at 1.8 meters tall. Evidence suggests that humans may have hunted giant sloths, as fossilized footprints of sloths and humans found in Utah were analyzed by a team in a 2018 study, finding them to be evidence that humans "actively stalked and/or harassed sloths, if not hunted them."

via IFLScience|

#extinction #geological-processes #megafauna