Observing sloths prior to rescue is essential to our mission. If a sloth is not injured or sick, it should be allowed to "power through" its daily routines--perhaps descending to the ground to move to a different patch of trees, to defecate, or for another slothful purpose. If the sloth is assessed and truly needs to be rescued, then it should be transported to a reputable facility as early as possible.
When searching for a reputable facility, ask a few questions. Is their a veterinarian on staff? Do they have experience with Xenarthra species? Do they have a proven track record and a mission to release sloths?
A professional facility will be able to answer your questions thoroughly. The sick or injured sloth will then be examined by a staff member or veterinarian and a plan will be created. Based upon the injury, sloths age, hydration, ability to eat and many other factors, a tailored treatment, rehabilitation and release plan will be developed.
This plan must be constantly updated based upon the ability of the sloth to heal and progress. Sloths will be monitored by their caretakers and veterinarians and plans will be constantly modified to reflect progress or setbacks. The release site is decided upon based upon country and local regulations. The site should be observed to insure that the ecosystem is able to support another sloth. Another critical parameter to consider is whether or not the ecosystem has a ready supply of the same foods that were used during rehabilitation.
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