The hidden cost of loving sloths the wrong way

For sloths, that can mean stressful handling, poor captive conditions, unsafe transport, and the added trauma of being separated from their mothers too soon. Sloths require highly specialised care in captivity and do not reproduce easily, meaning that many, if not most, sloths used in these encounters have been taken from the wild.

The scale of this demand is growing. Data from the US Fish & Wildlife Service's Law Enforcement Management Information System shows that live imports of Linnaeus's two-toed sloths nearly tripled from 59 live animals in 2012 to 160 in 2023, the most recent year for which data was publicly analysed. Behind those figures are hundreds of individual sloths removed from their forest homes and family groups for display and encounters in the US.

The truth is that sloths are highly specialised wild animals, not pets. They have evolved over millions of years for life in tropical forests, where they rely on carefully balanced habitats, specific diets, and low-stress environments. Their bodies and behaviours are adapted for life in the canopy, not for transport, frequent handling, artificial displays, or constant human interaction. What may look calm to people is not always comfort. Stillness can also be a stress response.

This is why IFAW's partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on the Not A Pet campaign is so important. In it, we highlight a simple but urgent truth: wild animals are not pets and should not be bought, sold, or kept for private ownership. While many people may not think of sloths in the same category as big cats or primates, the principle is the same. However appealing they may seem online, sloths have complex needs that private ownership or commercial handling exhibits cannot meet.