The Slothiest Day of the Year

In WildlifeTags Andrew Howley, Explorers JournalOctober 20, 20127 Comments

National Geographic Emerging Explorer Lucy Cooke has dedicated her life to celebrating the strange, funny looking, gross, creepy, or otherwise unseemly animals that most people forget, ignore, or outright avoid.

Her undying efforts on slothville.com though have made a certain amount of progress helping to turn the slow-moving, death-claw-bearing, moss-covered sloth into an internet darling (just ask Kristen Bell).

Today, you can join Lucy in her passion and celebrate International Sloth Day. Declared by AIUNA, a conservation organization aimed at protecting sloths and their relatives, it’s a day full of… well, pretty much whatever you decide to fill it with.

For starters, you can watch the video above, which Lucy filmed at the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica. Then, whether you slothfully skip bathing, lay around all day, or get un-slothfully active and throw a party or maybe tweet us a sloth haiku, do it boldly, and spread the word.

In full disclosure, I myself find sloths to be the creepiest living things on Earth.

But that won’t stop me celebrating. Happy International Sloth Day one and all!

[Video updated 10/25/12.]

Meet the Author

Andrew Howley is a longtime contributor to the National Geographic blog, with a particular focus on archaeology and paleoanthropology generally, and ancient rock art in particular. In 2018 he became Communications Director at Adventure Scientists, founded by Nat Geo Explorer Gregg Treinish. Over 11 years at the National Geographic Society, Andrew worked in various ways to share the stories of NG explorers and grantees online. He also produced the Home Page of nationalgeographic.com for several years, and helped manage the Society's Facebook page during its breakout year of 2010. He studied Anthropology with a focus on Archaeology from the College of William & Mary in Virginia. He has covered expeditions with NG Explorers-in-Residence Mike Fay, Enric Sala, and Lee Berger. His personal interests include painting, running, and reading about history. You can follow him on Twitter @anderhowl and on Instagram @andrewjhowley.

Ima Ryma
I am called sloth cuz I am slow,
Compared to humans’ hurried pace.
But what’s the hurry – doncha know!
Life’s too short to be in a race.
A Cecropia in Brazil
Is the one tree that I call home.
Food, sleep and sex – I get my fill.
A one stop soul – no need to roam.
I am three toed and throated brown,
And like to hang out in my tree,
See my world from the upside down,
Go to ground when I have to pee.
Why go to ground the question tiz?
I make less noise doing my biz.
Gaby
You have made my day! I love sloths and the Sloth Sanctuary.
jodie
how could they be gross/creepy? they’re so beautiful and cute! amazing creatures im envious of these workers 😀
Andrew Howley
Jodie, it’s the claws. The blank stare. The slow crawl.
But I’m starting to come around…
Olive
Sloths are truly amazing animals. Sure, they might seem lazy but they are wise. They say the wise move slowly to take in their surroundings. They are adorable in every way. I love their green tinted fur and their little faces especially. I feel inspired by the Sloth sanctuary and would love to go there when I am older and do volunteer work. I take a lot of interest in sloths. I have a sloth puppet! He is the best.
John
All sloths r cute
Debra Leudesdorff
A must understood mammal. So ugly, so cute!!!! Can they be domesticated?

Wildlife