Meet the Sloth, Tyrone!
General Information
Tyrone is from Costa Rica and is a male, two-fingered sloth. Tyrone is a part of the disabled sloth community. His birthday is June 4th. He was rescued in the San José Province in Costa Rica and was found on the side of the road with no mother in sight. His blanket color is violet, and his surrogate stuffy is a turtle stuffed animal named Timmy.
Likes & Dislikes
Tyrone's likes include eating, personal space, snuggling in his purple blanket, summer time, and stealing leaves when his pals aren't looking.
His dislikes include loud noises, walking on the ground, cold weather, sharing, and cars.
Tyrone's Story
Tyrone was born in the San José Province of Costa Rica, a heavily populated and urbanized region of Costa Rica. When he was found, he only had one claw on each of his forearms, making it difficult for him to cling onto things. Rescuers think that he must've fallen from his mother because of this, leaving him stranded on the ground. Upon being admitted to the Sir Bean Rescue Center, Tyrone was in poor health and struggled to eat. However, each week he grows stronger and plumper, and he is now an avid lover of snack time.
Unfortunately, his struggles to cling and climb are still quite apparent; thus, he is expected to be a permanent resident of the Sir Bean rescue center family. Tyrone is one of the lucky little sloths with his condition. The survival rates of sloths with similar disabilities is extremely low, as their natural adaptations to their arboreal life is compromised.
Tyrone in the Real World
Tyrone's story is based off of the story of Onesie the sloth, discovered by sloth conservationist Rebecca Cliffe and the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica. Onesie the sloth was found in the Limon province on the coast of Costa Rica in 2014. Unlike Tyrone, Onesie had only one claw on each arm and leg. Onesie and 4 other sloths admitted to the rescue center began a study conducted by Rebecca Cliffe and Swansea University to study the effects of habitat fragmentation on sloth genetics.
Onesie the sloth. "Onesie - the latest deformed baby sloth to be found. He was rescued from a tiny isolated island with only one finger and one toe on each hand and foot" - "Sloth Deformities, a Genetic Study," Beckcliffe.com
Tyrone and Onesie's conditions are results of inbreeding among sloth populations due to forest fragmentation and the decrease of the original forests their species reside in. As the forest decreases, there is less connection between different areas, thus limiting the space sloths can travel, and the number of sloths available for mating. As Costa Rica becomes more urbanized due to the growing human population and the booming tourism businesses, the sloth's become at higher risk of these disabilities.
Koki the sloth. "Koki - This infant sloth had no ears and only one finger and one toe on each hand and foot," "Sloth Deformities, a Genetic Study" - Beckycliffe.com
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.
Responsible Tourism
It's very important to do some research into your visits when traveling to Costa Rica. Make sure the places you visit work to support wildlife and environmental conservation. Costa Rica has many wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers!
Credits & Links
"Sloth Deformities - a genetic study," - Rebecca Cliffe.
"Sloth Deformities - A Genetic Study," -The Sloth Conservation Foundation
"Sloth Genetics: a surprising twist," - The Sloth Conservation Foundation
"Impacts of Inbreeding on the Two-toed and Three-toed Sloth," ukdiss.com/examples/impacts-of-inbreeding-sloth
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https://ko-fi.com/jeeppeepdoodles_