Part of the Family Baby sloths try to stay close to their mothers. Buttercup missed her mother. She needed to be held a lot. T at meant that Avey-Arroyo and her family took turns carrying the sloth around. Buttercup oſt en dozed while being


held. T at’s because many sloths are nocturnal. T ey sleep during the day and stay awake at night. When she was awake, Buttercup


was hungry. Sloths are herbivores. T ey get their nutrients from plants. Buttercup liked leaves and flowers.


Hanging Around At first, the family worried because Buttercup didn’t do much. She just hung over the back of the couch. She barely moved. T ey later learned that this is normal for sloths. Wild sloths spend most of their


lives hanging from tree branches. T ey eat and sleep upside down. T e Arroyo family built a special


chair for Buttercup. It was shaped like a basket and hung from the ceiling. Buttercup liked being up high. It was like being in a tree. She also loved hanging from her chair.


A mother sloth chews on a leaf while holding her baby.


6 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


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