Updates we don’t want to give | November 2025
In our last update, we shared with joy the news of Luiza’s fourth baby since we started following her: the little and adorable Peanut.
But just a few weeks after we confirmed Peanut, we haven’t seen her with her baby again, and we now suspect the little one may not have survived. The latest observations we have from Luiza are of her all by herself.
Unfortunately, infant loss is heartbreakingly common among sloths. Studies suggest that as many as half of all baby sloths don’t make it past their first few months. Life in the canopy is full of challenges: young sloths are extremely vulnerable, and they are also at risk from falls- a single slip from a high tree can be fatal for a small baby that is still learning to cling to its mother.
Human-related dangers are also increasing. Habitat fragmentation, road crossings, and loss of canopy connectivity make it harder for mothers to move safely between feeding trees. In some cases, even a gap of a few meters can separate them from essential resources. When trees are removed, mothers are forced to cross open ground, exposing both themselves and their young to serious risk.
Despite this, Luiza herself remains healthy and strong, continuing her usual calm routines. Each baby sloth, even when lost, reminds us how fragile their world is, and how vital our ongoing work is to protect these gentle animals and the forests they call home.