Meet the Sloth, Peanut!
General Information
Peanut is a baby female sloth born on December 14th. She is from Turrúcares, Costa Rica, and was found on the ground near power lines beside her mother. Her blanket color is yellow and her surrogate stuffed animal is a Harp Seal named Henry.
Likes & Dislikes
Peanut's likes include nap time, snuggling with her cuddle buddy, Tyrone, fresh hibiscus flowers, eco-friendly heat packs, hanging around her baby sloth buddies, and swimming therapy.
Her dislikes include, waking up early, day-old leaves, going to the vet, being alone, thunderstorms, and sudden changes in routine.
Peanut's Story
Peanut was found just weeks old a few feet from her mother on the floor near power lines. Rescuers state that they heard Peanut calling out and that her mother was in shock from possible electrocution. Both were rushed to the Sir Bean rescue center for treatment. Due to the severity of Peanut's mother's state, Peanut was taken to the nursery to be cared for. Upon admission to the rescue center, Peanut was abnormally small for her age and struggled to take milk for her first week, but slowly, she began to adjust. Learning to eat solids proved to be much more difficult. To get her adjusted, caretakers hand-fed her small pieces of leaves. Additionally, within the first few weeks of her stay at the center, her caretakers noticed something interesting. She would not move her legs when she tried to climb.
They also noticed that when cuddling with her sloth buddy, Tyrone, she would not cling onto him with her back legs. As time continued, she still did not use her legs, and she was much smaller than the average sloth. Two things then became very clear. She was partially paralyzed in her legs, and she had a neurological condition that affected her ability to move her muscles and her processing time when learning new things. Despite the adversity, Peanut shows us everyday that she wants to learn and grow, even if her path looks different than most of her sloth buddies. Whether or not Peanut will return to the wild is still unclear, but one thing is for sure: she is one determined little baby and deserves all the chances and tools she can get to one day get back in the trees.
Peanut in the Real World
Peanut's story is inspired by the one and only Grumpy at Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center. Grumpy was brought into their rescue center as an infant in April 2020 and adjusted well to his new life. However, in Dec. 2020, the workers noticed that Grumpy was not growing in his sloth skills at the average pace for sloths his age. Through a series of medical tests, they discovered that Grumpy had a healed spinal fracture from his fall. They believe this injury is linked to his slowed development and minimal use of his hind legs. Because of this neurological condition, Grumpy undergoes different types of physical therapy to help him gain control of his legs.
Grumpy at weighing day. August 14, 2020. Photo accessed through @costaricaanimalrescuecenter_ on Instagram
It took Grumpy a while to get used to eating solid foods, and he often needed his solid food to be blended with his milk or cut into small pieces. However, as time passed he slowly began to learn to eat on his own, starting with small pieces and eventually getting to whole flowers and leaves. In May 2022, Grumpy reached a huge milestone in his growth; he can now climb successfully using all 4 limbs! Even though it is taking Grumpy longer than most sloths to learn his skills, he expresses determination to grow at his own pace and in his own ways.
Clip from video of Grumpy learning to use his back legs. August 17, 2021. Video accessed through @costaricaanimalrescuecenter_ on Instagram
It took Grumpy a while to get used to eating solid foods, and he often needed his solid food to be blended with his milk or cut into small pieces. However, as time passed he slowly began to learn to eat on his own, starting with small pieces and eventually getting to whole flowers and leaves. In May 2022, Grumpy reached a huge milestone in his growth; he can now climb successfully using all 4 limbs! Even though it is taking Grumpy longer than most sloths to learn his skills, he expresses determination to grow at his own pace and in his own ways.
What Can You Do to Help?
Donate!
It's vital that rescue centers stay well-funded so that they can provide proper care for their sloths AND release their sloths in the proper location for their species. Consider donating to the following programs and centers: The Sloth Conservation Foundation, The Sloth Institute, Kids Saving the Rainforest, Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center, Jaguar Rescue Center, and Toucan Rescue Ranch.
Symbolically Adopt a Sloth!
Did you know that you can symbolically adopt a sloth from many rescue centers? When you purchase an adoption package from them, your money goes towards helping that sloth receive the medical care and accommodations it needs to thrive in their growth and hopefully their life in the wild.
Credits & Links
Grumpy's story was pieced together through the posts created by Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center regarding Grumpy and his progress. You can learn more and follow Grumpy's progress by looking through their website and instagram page: @costaricaanimalrescuecenter_
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