2019-10-01 Wanderlust

Intruth,lookingforaslothinthewildisatrying

task.Atleast,itisunlessyou’reanexperienced

wildlifeguideaccustomedtoscouringtheforest

canopyforacreaturethatspendsalmostallof

itslifeinhighbranches,andwhichissoslow-

movingthatalgaegrowinitsfur.It’snotsomuch

thatslothsareshy–andwithatopspeedofless

thanaquarterofakmperhour,they’reunlikely

tooutrunyou–justthatbeingwellcamouŽlaged

andlivingamongdensefoliagemakesspotting

onetricky.Theanswer:joinanexperttrek

throughCostaRica’scloudforestorrainforest–

brown-throatedthree-toedslothandHo’man’s

two-toedslothliveinvariousareasacrossthe

country,althoughnotethelatterisnocturnal.

ManuelAntonioNationalPark,apocketgemon

thePaciŽiccoast,isahotspotforslothsightings,

withaccreditedguidesleadingwalksthroughthe

humidtropicalforest.You’lllikelyenjoytheantics

ofplayfulsquirrelmonkeys(picturedbelow)and

coati,aswellascatchingglimpsesofagouti,green

kingŽisherandvarioussnakes;alongthecoast,you

mayalsoseeoliveridleyturtleslumberingashore.

Toptip:You’reguaranteedtoseeslothsat

anumberofrehabilitationcentresand

sanctuaries.Onewell-regardedoperationisthe

ToucanRescueRanch,whichrunsguidedwalks.

Alsotry:SoberaníaNationalPark,Panama;

AtlanticRainforest,Brazil;Iwokrama,Guyana.

121

Theclassic:Spyslothsintherainforest

canopyintheBrazilianAmazon

WHEN?

Although Costa Rica’s

‘drier’ season is from

December to April,

the lush country

is never truly

100% dry.

ALTERNATIVE SECRET WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES

wanderlust.co.uk October 2019 113

The alternative: Spot slow-

moving mammals in Costa Rica

Alamy; Naturepl