Maned three-toed sloth  (Bradypus torquatus)

The habitat of the maned three-toed sloth in the tropical coastal forests of Brazil is threatened by logging, charcoal production, urbanisation, industrialisation and clearance for plantations and cattle pasture (1). Today, the Atlantic Forest is reduced to less than 5% of its original extent and the area of the Mata Atlantica, where the maned three-toed sloth lives, has the highest human population in Brazil (8) (9). This sloth was previously hunted for its meat, and even though it is now protected by law, its numbers have been dramatically reduced and have not recovered (9). There have also been reports of this species being found in tourist areas where people pay to have their photograph taken with it, indicating that hunting is not totally under control (6).

Like so many species, the survival of the maned three-toed sloth is inextricably bound to the future of tropical rainforests. The Atlantic Forest, where this sloth is found, ranks among the top five global biodiversity hotspots, partly due to its high number of endemic species (10). There are several conservation measures being taken, which are hoped to protect the maned three-toed sloth. Currently the WWF is working with the local communities of the Atlantic Forest through environmental education programs to protect the habitat of this sloth and many other endangered species in the area (10). The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is working on reduced-impact forest management and on providing alternatives to slash and burn agroforestry (11).

Conservation International (CI) has plans to stimulate income through tourism, where agriculture might otherwise have been introduced; in 1998 a canopy walkway was built near the Una Reserve saving 320 acres of valuable rain forest habitat from logging, which is a hopeful message to other conservation projects (8). The maned three-toed sloth has a unique healing ability and is able to survive severe injuries (5). Scientists are also therefore keen to protect and breed this species so they can study the sloth's quick healing abilities and determine whether there could be benefits for human medicinal purposes (11). Efforts to relocate maned sloths in more secure areas of the rainforest have been successful so far, though breeding in captivity has been poor as sloths do not survive for long outside of their natural environment (11). Research projects are focusing on the close relationship between females and offspring so that breeding and re-introduction programs in the future are better informed and more successful (7) (12). These projects are hoped to allow the unique maned three-toed sloth to recover (8).