Like any true celebrity, nature’s A-list is a recluse, hidden from the spotlight…until now. This November, Animal Planet accesses one of the most adored yet notoriously private creatures in the new eight-part series, MEET THE SLOTHS.
Get up close and personal with the animal kingdom’s newest – and not to mention, cutest – royalty and enter their land of mating mojo, slow motion fights and clandestine love triangles at the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica– the world’s only rescue centre devoted to saving orphaned and injured sloths. It is an upside-down world where slothy secrets are revealed, andit is anything but a snooze! MEET THE SLOTHS premieres Friday, November 29 at 9:00 p.m. and encores every Monday at 3:00 p.m., Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
Despite being known as the world’s slowest mammals, there is more to than that tothis group of crypticxenarthra.For instance, did you know these sexual dynamos can be shockingly fast at mating? MEET THE SLOTHS discoversall there is to know about these endearing arboreal beings at theSloth Sanctuaryof Costa Rica, an advocatefor the protection and rehabilitation of sloths in recovery, specifically through the research ofthe Bradypusvariegatus or “three-fingered” sloth, and Choloepushoffmanni or “two-fingered” sloth.Through compelling storytelling interwoven with ground-level scientific research, MEET THE SLOTHS provides a light-hearted andenlightening insight on these fascinating creatures. Get acquainted with the colourful furry characters that make the reserve extra special; pampered princess, Buttercup – the undisputed queen of the sanctuary and the reason why the reserve was set up, king lothario, Randy – the master seducer, Linus – the sensitive new age sloth,and Savannah – the wild child, amongst others.
Driving the extraordinary cause at the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica is a formidable trio of sloth lovers – legendary sloth saviour and sanctuary owner, JudyAvey-Arroyo,feistynursery manager ClaireTrimer and scientistRebecca “Becky” Cliffe. Together, they dedicate their time to fosterand study over 150 orphaned and injuredsloths to unravel theirsecrets and true nature. Follow them on their day-to-day duties, encounters and discoveries, which are anything but easy or ordinary. In the sanctuary where there is a strict “no sex” house rule, how do you deal witha sexually frustrated Romeo slothfacing a heart problem of the romantic kind, halt a physical confrontation between baby sloth twins fighting for survival, and manage massive ‘poop parties’, amongst others? Life at the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica is an unlikely wild soap opera complete with dramatic rescues, sneaky romance and deadly rivals. It is time to MEET THE SLOTHS and discover that although they may be slow on their feet, a sloth’s life is anything but slothful.
Episode Descriptions
Episode 1
Hear ye, hear ye! Buttercup, the pampered princess of the sanctuary gets a new throne, amidst a budding sloth bromance. Meanwhile, sloth scientist Becky gets to the bottom of the matter when it comes to sloth digestion – can she stomach the results?
Episode 2
Somebody, call the doctor! An emergency rescue puts sanctuary vet, Marcello, on the spot while a heart problem, of the romantic variety, surfaces. This love triangle leaves poor sloth Samantha in the doghouse. Later, sloth scientist Becky puts speed to the test to measure if the creatures live up to their names.
Episode 3
Love and lust is in the air for the sanctuary’s teenaged set, while Linus, the sanctuary’s most sensitive sloth, hits a rocky patch when nursery manager Claire has to leave the sanctuary. Later, sloth scientist Becky reveals which of the sloth species is a natural-born swimmer!
Episode 4
A visit from a wild mother and baby sloth almost ends in disaster while young Tigger starts to display decidedly un-sloth-like tendencies. Later, sloth scientist Becky tries to find out what drives the females of the species wild – what will she discover?
Episode 5
It is touch-and-go at the sanctuary when sloth lothario, Randy, succumbs to an arm infection. Meanwhile, a new arrival gets a presidential welcome to his new home. Later, sloth scientist Becky unravels the secrets of sloth attraction.
Episode 6
It is all hands on deck when a sloth is suffering from poisoning and the sanctuary team rushes to save her. Meanwhile, nursery manager Claire turns sloth sleuth to find a much-loved missing toy for one of her wards. Sloth scientist Becky tries to pin down the secret of sloth masculinity.
Episode 7
There is no place like home when two rehabilitated sloths are released back into the wild. Nursery manager Claire’s sloth wards get their very own jungle gym, and sloth scientist Becky gets a “buzz” from a sloth skeleton.
Episode 8
Sanctuary favouriteSidwiggy puts a new tracking system to the test when he is on the move, while nursery manager Claire becomes a sloth anger management counselor. Later, sloth scientist Becky reveals the secret life of sloth fur and pulls up some hairy findings!