Hanging with the Sloth

The poor sloth has long been a subject of ridicule and misunderstanding (its name is even one of the Seven Deadly Sins). Found in the rainforest canopies of Central and South America, both the two- and three-fingered sloth—cousin to the armadillo and the anteater—is an amazing, remarkably well-adapted mammal. Yes, the sloth sleeps 18 hours a day, and relieves itself only once a week, but it also has an extra vertebrae in its neck that enables the animal to crane its head around 360 degrees (almost Linda Blair-style) and is four-armed rather than four-legged—making it very agile in trees, but defenseless on the ground. Jeri Ledbetter's short documentary Hanging with the Sloth serves up an affectionate portrait of the animal, which viewers see in its natural habitat, as well as at a sloth rescue center in Costa Rica, where the animals are fed, rehabilitated from injuries, and reintroduced to the wild. Combining interview clips, on-location footage, and fine nature photography (it's hard to resist the adorable, smiling, furry face of the sloth), this is recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)