Did you know that a three-toed sloth rests for about 20 hours a day? Found in the jungles of South America, this super slow mammal moves upside down on trees at a speed of roughly 400m an hour. On the ground, it is even slower!

This animal has weak hind legs and so digs into the ground with its front claws, drags its stomach across the ground and pulls itself up with its front legs to move. It has an extra neck vertebra which allows it to turn its head almost 270 degrees.

With a weak sense of touch, sight and hearing, it uses its other weakness — slow movement — to its advantage for its survival in the wild. Because it is so restful, it stays out of the notice of its larger predators — jaguars, ocelots, harpy eagles and anacondas. Its body hair contains algae that is brown in summer and green during the rains. This helps it camouflage itself.

The sloth moves a little at night, when it eats leaves and fruit. For water, it depends on juicy plants.

Sanctuary Asia