Please, Pretty Pleeeeeeze, Can I hold a Sloth???
The number one question we get in emails is about hugging, holding, cuddling a sloth. Our documentary on Discovery Channels Animal Planet, “Too Cute, Baby Sloths” has got sloth huggers coming out of the wood work. The film portrays sloths as cute and cuddly. Most people are not realizing that sloths, although appear gentle and “tame” are really wild animals. They can bite and clamp onto a person with their enormous claws and vise-like grip. All of the videos of past volunteers and workers at the sanctuary have been trained appropriately to handle the sloths.
We recently had a wonderful family visit the Sloth Sanctuary. They had an adorable little girl who fell in love with Buttercup. She loved all the sloths, but her favorite was Buttercup. Her parents did a wonderful thing for her. They taught her about how wonderful sloths are by coming and visiting our education center. It was a day to remember for everyone! To remember her trip they bought her, her very own “Buttercup”. Here is a picture of Alexia with her very own sloth, a wonderful stuffed animal replica. She is happily hugging her sloth with no harm to her or the sloth! Take the cue from Alexia.
To learn more about why we as humans need to respect the nature of the sloth visit our Tour Page.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
where can I buy a stuffed sloth?
Dear Sara,
I am not sure where you can get them. We are working on it but things take time. Try surfing the internet. If you find something let us know!
Good luck,
Mindy
The most adorable stuffed sloth is the
“Soft Plush Sloth” by Dowman Soft Touch,
it is sold in the UK. It is 18 inches high and
has long arms with a wonderful fur.
Search for “sloth” and “Dowman” at eBay,
they deliver worldwide.
Hi. I think it would be a great idea if you sold “Buttercup” sloth dolls on your website to benefit your rescue. You could take advantage of the publicity from the Animal Planet segment. You could probably find a place that would manufacture the dolls and handle the fullfillment as well. Might be worth thinking about. Thanks for all the great work you do!
Dear Sherrie,
Thanks for the idea. We have thought about doing this but it is a logistical nightmare to get things through customs in Costa Rica. If we ever figure out how to do we will post on the website!
~The Sloth Sanctuary
Maybe if you used an outside company, not located in Costa Rica? You could partner with a toy company to release a Buttercup stuffed sloth, and for every sloth sold, a percentage would go to the sanctuary? The plush could be listed on their website so the company could handle the orders; they would just be using the logo and Buttercup’s likeness.
I know how you can expand your offering of Sloth merchandise. Use an offsite fulfillment company in the United States to store and ship your products. I do this with my internet business and it works out extremely well. That way, you wouldn’t have to worry about the “logistical nightmare” of getting merchandise into Costa Rica. The merchandise would be stored and shipped from the USA. I can give you the name of the fulfillment company that I use — it is VERY reliable; we have been using them for more than 5 years with no problems. They are honest, reliable, and their prices are extremely reasonable. They are also experts at shipping orders in the most cost-effective way.
Regards,
Lynn