slow and steady wins the race

There are a lot of banana plantations on the Caribbean coast, the blue bags are to stop the bananas getting brown spots, so purely aesthetic, and once finished with they are left lying around to clog up rivers, get eaten by turtles and other wildlife.  We regularly hear planes spraying chemicals (oh must be the American government again) as the sanctuary is surrounded by Chiquita and Dole plantations.

We passed the port we are going to leave from on the way to the sloth sanctuary.  All the way along the road  are yards full of 'reefers', refrigerated containers to be filled with the world favourite fruit to be shipped to Europe and elsewhere.

The actual port

Cool name for a river

We met these guys at the hotel in San Jose and they kindly gave us a lift to the sanctuary as they were on their way to the neighbouring town of Cahuita, very handy.

On the first day we arrived just in time for feeding time so we shadowed the other volunteers and learnt about looking after our designated sloths.  As you can see they were very enthusiastic about our arrival.

dishing out the lunch for the sloths.  Carrots, camote (yam) and green beans and a spoon of dog food for the two toed and bunches of cecropia leaves for the three toed 'Bradys'

A three toed sloth - they have become our firm favourites as they are so interactive - It is not uncommon to be clambered on by them when cleaning out the cage.

This is Bruno, he has a bad back so he has to have a PE mat to lie on

There are a few sloths that choose to eat over their heads as well as upside down.  Many fall asleep while eating or forget to eat at all!

Some sloths are less camera shy than others

Buttercup is queen of the sanctuary and rightly the most famous sloth on the planet. She is amazing and deserves her fame, she spends her days being admired by visitors while she sits in her wicker chair. She was reaching out for me as I walked past her in this photo.  We could watch her for hours pulling her various Zen like poses.

A new species

This is Millie, she is in the exhibition centre and prefers to remain in this relaxed pose most of her days.  She is like a Buddha (in temperament and shape!).

We have been given official T - shirts for when the cruise ships come on tour 

Eddy and Marmaduke two of the three resident dogs here