More Sloths For two years, Buttercup was the only sloth in the Arroyo family. T en one day, everything changed. A bus driver brought the family


another baby sloth. It was an orphan, too. Word began to spread. Other


people started giving the family orphaned sloths. T ey knew the family would take care of them.


The Sanctuary T e family created a sanctuary for sloths. T at’s a place where animals are cared for. T e Arroyos take in all injured or orphaned sloths. Volunteers and staff help take


care of the sloths. T e sloth babies live in a nursery. T ey drink goat’s milk each morning. T e staff built a gym where the


baby sloths can play. When the babies get sleepy, they nap. T en the older sloths use the gym. T e staff looks aſt er sloths all day.


Wordwise


herbivore: an animal that only eats plants mammal: a kind of animal that has fur and makes milk to feed its young nocturnal: active at night


8 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


The Dangers They Face It’s safer for these sloths here than it is in the wild. New cities and roads can damage sloth habitats. Pollution, power lines, and traffic can harm sloths. So far, the Arroyo family has


rescued more than 500 sloths. Some sloths just visit. T ey come because they are hurt or sick. When they get well, they return to the wild. Many others will never leave the


sanctuary. T ey don’t know how to survive in the wild.


Road to Recovery Buttercup has lived with the Arroyos for 21 years. She greets visitors who come to the sanctuary. In her gentle way, Buttercup


teaches each visitor something important. She teaches that the rain forest is home to sloths and other creatures. It’s important that we protect it. By protecting their homes, we can help save sloths.


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