July 2025
It’s time for another exclusive update for our VIP family, and we have plenty to share from deep in the jungle! From exciting new research to some very clingy baby sloths (yes, Mel is still holding on!), there’s been no shortage of action in the field this month.
We’re excited to welcome back Catalina Pérez, our brilliant PhD biologist from Colombia, who has joined us for another two months in the field. Her research is shedding light on how changes in land use impact sloth habitat quality, population density, and behavior - important insights for protecting sloths in an increasingly changing world. This time, she’s also launching an exciting new study on sloth parasites, using a One Health approach to explore how animal, environmental, and human health are all connected. Her work is helping us uncover the hidden dynamics shaping the lives of these elusive creatures.
But the most exciting updates this month come from the sloths themselves…
Deborah is still caring for little baby Mel, who - as you might expect - is taking life at her own pace. She’s huge now but still clinging to mom like a newborn. I think it might be time she moved out already! Still, she’s gaining confidence day by day. Speaking of moms and babies, Tiki and Tender were also spotted using a Sloth Crossing canopy bridge!
Meanwhile, deep in the primary forest, we have welcomed three new wild sloths into our study: Bolita, Chill, and Ponder. One of them is now fitted with a GPS tracking collar, generously donated by our lovely partners at Fahlo. This technology is giving us real-time insight into sloth movement patterns in remote areas where sloths have never been studied before - an exciting step forward for our research.
Last month, we asked for your questions - and I’ve answered them all in this exclusive behind-the-scenes video made just for our VIP community!
Thank you again for being such an important part of this journey. Your support is what makes all of this possible - for us, and for the sloths we work so hard to protect.
All the best from the jungle,
