Sloth Sanctuary Suriname sequel: the whole story!

Our volunteer Patrick and his construction team have been experiencing some unexpected challenges in preparing the site of the sloth rehabilitation centre for our activities. After our succesful volunteer day, Patrick continued prepping the site for the second volunteer day. One important work to achieve was rain harvesting for the sanitary facilities. The whole installation was put in place, and our rainwater harvesting system is functioning. And then the rainy season set in. And the rains have been coming down in such large quantities, that the land became soggy and no longer accessible for the trucks we needed to bring there. It's been a story of one car after the other being stuck. Even the truck that had to bring in some sand to bring relief got stuck itself. This means that we need to purchase more sand than we had anticipated to ensure that the work can continue and to prepare the site for our sloth rehabilitation activities. As they could not continue their work for lack of materials, our intern Dave who had been working with some of our juvenile sloths, seized the opportunity to release Bonny and Valentin, two animals that were fit to go. Dave and two other students followed the animals for several hours.

The Way of the Rain

During this rainy season we have not only had incredible downpours, but we sometimes feel almost as if it is raining sloths. Fortunately, many of these animals just need to be relocated from urban areas where the forest is cut down. It was for that reason very appropriate to release some sloths in this rainy weather with Sybille Szaggars Redford from Way of the Rain. While we were preparing the animals for release the rain came pouring down on our roof, the tank filled up within a few minutes spilling over the sides. As it was only a short tropical downpour, the animals were released and started immediately exploring their new homes.

June 15 Bonus Reward Day, donations will be matched up to $1,000 per donor. Matching starts at 9:00:01 am EDT

Links:

• With Sybille Szaggars Redford releasing sloths
• Rain coming down in buckets

After many attempts at finding an appropriate location and trying to create a win-win with various tourist destinations, the Green Heritage Fund Suriname finally decided to purchase its own land to ensure the sustainability of the rehabilitation centre. Although we seem to have been moving at a sloth’s pace for a long time, the speed at which our plans are now being realized is definitely more akin to an anteater’s pace.  

For animals like Chill who lost his mother in a deforestation, and who has so far failed to really thrive, the natural surroundings of the forest may just make the difference to completely heal him from the vagaries of the separation from his mother at a too young age. Providing him with opportunities to forage at any time he wants on leaves that are succulent and fresh and of a wide variety of plant species.  

Ann has a baby

As you may remember from our last report, Ann who had been for two months on her own in a forest patch while we monitored her, came back and did not show signs of ever wanting to leave again. She surprised us on the 22^nd of February when baby Isa was born. Mother and baby are well, but a natural surrounding would undoubtedly give baby Isa a better chance of growing up into a healthy individual. We all go out of our way to make sure baby Isa is provided with the freshest and most varied diet we can provide.

Improving the Rehabilitation for Young Animals

Prior to the establishment of the center, we are trying to provide our younger animals with opportunities to climb and forage at a forest location close to town. During their climbing and foraging training, our intern Dave and his assistants closely watch the animals and note their behaviors so that we will have our release protocol ready when the center opens. Simultaneously, volunteer Shaila continues the study of the plants foraged that was started by intern Romano. Romano’s observations have led to a more varied diet for the animals in our temporary care.

Education to prevent animal cruelty

An important goal of our center will be education about the animal group we work with, as well as more general environmental education. Specific attention will be given to education to prevent animal cruelty, so that we can prevent cases of cruelty like we had in the past month from happening. Two animals were so severely wounded that we had to put one to sleep and the other did not make it through the night. Our third case of animal cruelty involves baby Glenn who is healing from a shot wound that likely killed his mother. Veterinary care and close observation of how he is doing, will hopefully lead to baby Glenn making it through this fragile phase in his life.

Volunteers help build the sloth centre

Special volunteer building days are planned on weekends when in a short time span a specific building task is accomplished by a large group of volunteers. In between those special days volunteer contractor Patrick continues preparing the building site with the help of interns and volunteers during the week.  

Links:

• The sad animal abuse case of Feni
• Diary of a baby sloth
• Breaking ground on rehab center