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World Sloth Day

Animal Awareness Days

Celebrate World Sloth Day by finding out more about these incredible animals - and by learning what you can do to help them.

About World Sloth Day

Here’s everything you need to know about World Sloth Day.

When is World Sloth Day?

World Sloth Day (also known as International Sloth Day or just Sloth Day) is held on the 20th of October every year. Some organisations go as far as celebrating “Slothtober”, choosing to highlight this charismatic mammal for a whole month.

What is World Sloth Day?

International Sloth Day is an opportunity to celebrate all the characteristics that make sloths so enigmatic and unique. It’s also a chance to raise awareness of the threats wild sloths are facing, including their use as a tourist selfie prop.

6 facts about sloths

  1. There are two types of sloths — two-toed and three-toed. While both types have three claws on their hind limbs, two-fingered sloths have just two claws on their front limbs.  
  2. Sloths have amazing necks. They can rotate their heads 270°, giving them a great view of their surroundings.
  3. Sloths move slower than any other mammal, at a speed of no more than 38 metres per day. However, they can move up to three times faster when they swim.
  4. Sloths have a multi-compartment stomach that helps them to digest their food. As you might expect with the sloth, however, this is a slow process. It can take up to 30 days for a sloth to digest one leaf.  
  5. The internal organs of a sloth are attached to its ribcage. This allows the sloth to hang upside down without putting pressure on its lungs.
  6. The facial structure of a sloth makes it look like it's constantly smiling. This is perhaps one of the reasons why sloths are cruelly used as a photo prop for tourists.

Sloths are wild animals, not photo props

According to the IUCN, the pygmy three-toed sloth is critically endangered and the maned three-toed sloth is vulnerable. In the wild, the sloth’s rainforest habitat is being destroyed for timber harvesting and to make way for farms. Their habitat is becoming fragmented, which makes it harder for sloths to mate and breed.

Most significantly, though, sloths are caught by hunters for the illegal pet trade. They are taken from the wild to be used as a tourist photo prop. They are handled by tourists, which causes them to experience high levels of fear and stress. They are often left tied up on the floor, far from their natural forest habitat.

How to celebrate World Sloth Day

To celebrate the International Day of the Sloth, do your bit to protect these magnificent animals:

  • Take action to end exploitative tourism, protecting the hundreds of thousands of animals being used around the world for tourist entertainment.
  • Call out travel companies that promote captive animal attractions.
  • Always travel responsibly. Never include cruel, captive wildlife entertainment on your itinerary — and avoid travel companies that fail to address animal welfare issues.
  • Push for the strongest, most effective protection for sloths, other animals, and their natural habitats.  
  • Join our campaigns to push organisations and governments to safeguard animals and their habitats.
  • Sign up for our newsletter to discover more ways you can help sloths and other wildlife.

Many animals need your help. Find out about other animal awareness days.

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Sloth FAQS

How much do sloths sleep a day?

Despite their reputation for sleepiness, sloths in the wild sleep as much as humans — around eight to nine hours every day.

How far can a sloth travel in a day?

Sloths move slower than any other mammal on the planet. They can travel no more than 125 feet (38 metres) in a day. On the ground, they crawl at a rate of one foot (30 centimetres) per minute.

Where do sloths live?

Sloths live in South and Central America in lowland rainforests. They spend most of their time eating and resting in the forest canopy. In fact, the sloth spends up to 90% of its life hanging upside down.

What do sloths eat?

Sloths are omnivores. They eat buds, leaves, and tender shoots. However, they have been known to eat insects and birds to supplement their diet. 

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