Sloth Released Into The Wild After Surviving Dog Attack

The sloth, named Tina by Toucan Rescue Ranch workers, was pulled from the jaws of several dogs by locals in Sarapiqu, Costa Rica.

After calling wildlife authorities, the sloth’s rescuers contacted Toucan Rescue Ranch who brought her to Heredia, Costa Rica for treatment on October 31 2016.

Just a few days later Tina had orthopaedic surgery to fix her broken radius and ulna. The surgeon attached an external fixation to the injured arm to help the bone heal and to regain use of her arm.

Tina had also suffered several dog bites so the staff gave her a strong dose of antibiotics and cleaned her wounds daily to prevent infection.

After her pins were removed on February 23 2017, the staff began intensive rehabilitation therapy to help her regain her strength to return to the wild.

At first the the team helped her walk on the ground to force her to use her injured arm, and then they began putting her in different trees to encourage her to move around and find wild food on her own.

A week before her release on March 24, Tina was fitted with a tracking collar so that the staff can track her progress in the wild.

Once released, Tina made a beeline for the treetops to embrace life back in the wild.

Sloths face many risks in the wild including a loss of habitat, electrocution from charged security fences, getting hit by cars - even on animal crossing roads - dog attacks and the illegal pet trade.

Toucan Rescue Ranch’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and, when possible, release Costa Rican wildlife.

The ranch was established in 2004 by Leslie Howle and Jorge Murillo as a rescue centre for toucans and other birdlife, but a chance rescue of a baby sloth in 2007 transformed the centre into a wildlife rescue.