Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Action for Sloths

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

Oct 13, Oct 13 2008 (IPS) - The southeastern district of the capital known as Baruta will place signs in public areas about the movement among trees — and possible fall — of brown-throated three-toad sloths (Bradypus variegatus), relatives of the anteater and the armadillo that move at just 200 meters per hour. Other signs “will let pedestrians and drivers know how to help them if they find them, picking them up under the arms and carrying them to the trunk of a tree, preferably a yagrumo (Cecropia peltata), its preferred habitat,” Evelyn Pallota, director of the municipality's green areas, told Tierramérica.

The initiative arose “after residents saved a sloth that had fallen and was being threatened by dogs, and they took it to a city veterinarian. Now we are launching a program to protect the species, like we have for macaws and will continue with squirrels and the guacharaca bird,” added Pallota.