Sloths are still one of the most amazing animals in Costa Rica.I say ‘still’ because I’ve now seen a bunch of them and yet they continue to pique my curiosity.

It is common on some Costa Rica Park tours, like in Manuel Antonio, to see a sloth through the guide’s telescope but frankly, it’s kind of like seeing a sloth on tv. It’s cool but you don’t feel like you’ve really experienced seeing a sloth.

So after several far away sightings I finally got my close-up. I was driving between Jaco and Dominical and came across a sloth. I didn’t actually see the sloth at first; I just got angry at the crazy drivers who decided to stop across from each other on either side of the highway, creating a narrow passageway on a busy stretch of the road. It turns out they had intentionally parked this way, dangerous as it was, to get other drivers to slow down as there was a sloth inching across the road and was in danger of being hit.

I immediately pulled over and grabbed my camera to get a better look. (I always try to travel with a camera in my car for occasions just like this). As I approached, the guy in the photo picked up the sloth to move it. slothThe sloth’s arms and legs extended straight out in the zombie pose. I’ve heard you’re not supposed to touch them but I honestly don’t know what’s better. A sloth may take 30 or more minutes just to cross the road and its chances of getting hit are pretty big. This guy just picked him up by the scruff of his neck and back and put him in the ditch on the other side. Sloth saved.

That was in March 2008 and then a couple of weeks ago I got to see a sloth in a tree about 10 feet above me at Manuel Antonio National Park. He was actively climbing and feeding which made it all the more fascinating. And friends, Mia and Mehgan rescued an Albino-looking sloth, by helping it cross the road (see photo). And another friend Dalen also rescued an Albino-looking sloth in Punta Leona. So, if you come to Costa Rica and want to see a sloth, chances are you’ll find one. If you stay long enough you may find yourself helping one cross the road.