International Sloth Day – October 20, 2022, history, significance
International Sloth Day is an annual commemoration celebrated on October 20th of every year. Sounds weird as this Day is for the sloth? Don’t get panic, as this Day is not for laziness or indolence. The sloth here refers to a mammal that is originally a leaf-eaters. Every living being needs recognization and sloth is one among those living creatures.
The animal is named so as it seems to be slow and lazy at first glance. They are not so, and we could see it with a smiling face. International Sloth Day celebrates the sloths, an extinct mammal. It is also the Day that raises awareness about the natural habitat and life cycle of the Sloth.
History of International Sloth Day
International Sloth Day was first celebrated in the year 2010. AIUNAU Foundation, non-profit conservation, and wildlife organization located in Colombia have created this Day. The AIUNAU members of Columbia have been continually working with the sloths since 1996.
Every year, they surveyed the sloths being killed and captured to be made as pets. The first international meeting dealt with the well-being, rehabilitation, and conservation of the sloths. The primary objective of this Day is it highlights the element that makes people aware and conscious of wildlife
The creation of this Day lets the people get to know a little more about these mammals. AIUNAU aims in promoting awareness about the sloths its rehabilitation and conservation. Sloths are extremely slow-moving, shy, quiet animals. They spend their entire lives hanging on the limbs of trees.
Its name is similar to one of the seven deadly sins in Christian philosophy. Besides the name meaning, they are usually idle due to metabolic adaptations for conserving energy. They act fast and quickly during emergency flights from predators.
INTERNATIONAL SLOTH DAY TIMELINE
1804
Presidential sloth
Thomas Jefferson was involved in the discovery of an extinct sloth species. He received a gift fossil from a friend and submitted a research paper.
1941
Prehistoric proof
Smithsonian curator Remington Kellogg found a substance at the Grand Canyon that turned out to be 100,000-year-old sloth fecal matter. This sample has since allowed researchers to learn about past diet, and give insight into the environment in which they lived.
1995
Sloth fossils discovered
Researchers found sloth fossils off a coastal desert in Peru and discovered they belonged to a group of sloths called Thalassocnus, who were semiaquatic and lived alongside whales and crocodiles.
2019
Senior sloth
The oldest known sloth alive turned 50 at a German zoo. The two-toed sloth, named Paula, first arrived in 1971. Oddly enough, zoo staff thought that Paula was male for over 20 years. They only discovered she was female in 1995 following an ultrasound.
INTERNATIONAL SLOTH DAY ACTIVITIES
Create sloth crafts
Craft your own sloth decorations! You can use all sorts of materials from felt fabric to paper plates. You can make a plush sloth for a friend or create an activity for kids. You can find more sloth cut-out instructions online or from books at your local library.
Follow the sloth’s guide to life
If there was ever a day meant to take it slow, today is that day! Unwind at home or enjoy your surroundings by visiting places you never have never been before. You can achieve this by strolling through the park, eating your favorite foods, and working on hobbies.
Watch movies with sloths
Enjoy National Sloth Day by spending a lazy hour watching movies with sloths in them. Our list includes “Zootopia,” “The Croods,” and any “Ice Age” film!
5 FACTS ABOUT THE DAILY LIFE OF A SLOTH
They’re s-l-o-w
Because sloths have a slow metabolic process they usually only relieve themselves once per week.
Just hanging around
Sloths are arboreal animals, meaning they spend most of their lives in trees.
Camouflage at a whole new level
A sloth’s fur hosts a vast ecosystem of moths, bugs, and algae — which taints their furs green and is used as camouflage in the trees.
Are you looking at me?
Three–toed sloths are able to turn their heads nearly 360 degrees.
Aging gracefully
When sloths survive possible poachers and captors, they can live anywhere between 10 and 30 years!
WHY WE LOVE INTERNATIONAL SLOTH DAY
They are downright adorable
It’s nearly impossible to look at sloths and not gush. Their fur is thick and soft — and their eyes are big pools of warmth. From their casual vibe, to their permanent smiles, they beam beauty.
Sloths are master of zen
Sure, sloths have their moments, but they are so mesmerizing to watch as they rest in trees and stay serene for what seems like an eternity . It’s no wonder sloths are so popular.
They can get aggressive — if necessary.
Although sloths have peaceful demeanors, wild sloths can be aggressive and bite very hard. If caught by a predator on land you are likely to hear a sloth hissing, or shrieking. Visitors at a sloth nursery should not get too close.
