What Are We Doing That Hurts Them?
Humans are positively by far the most harmful aspect that has influenced the population of the pygmy sloth and its environment. Some have caused insurmountable destruction on its habitat, purposely killing the sloth for money being the major cause of the creature’s placement in critical care of almost extinction. More than anything, it has been reported by the locals of the island that prohibited deforestation of the mangrove tree is still occurring, a factor considered the most serious threat to their endangerment. This is not only a destruction of the trees in which the sloth lives in for the majority of their lives, but also reduces the size of the originally small habitat they reside in. Another major yet fairly common issue in the world of endangered species is the introduction of smugglers poaching the sloth off the island, diminishing numbers significantly, even though an urgent conservation action has been taken out and the island is considered a preservation area for the species. However, even though the public is educated tourism is still being attempted to be brought in and this would even further reduce the mangrove forest as well as likely increase poaching problems. Studies have observed that the human influence is not only effecting even the genetic diversity of the pygmy sloth, but also slowly constricting the capacity for their population, as mentioned before.
What Are We Doing To Help?
The local indigenous people of Isla Escudo de Veraguas have strong administrative power to designate their island as a protected area internationally recognized as a location of a critically endangered species. Currently, a campaign is underway with a group of scientists to develop a conservation strategy in order to keep the species alive. It’s been determined that the pygmy three toed sloth does not due well in captivity, and therefore decided it must be conserved specifically in the wild by protecting what is left of its surroundings so that it may grow once again. By raising funds that have been involving several stakeholders, the WWF and the ZSL Edge Fellowship are some of the many programs that are helping to support the country in order to conserve and protect this gentle creature in the effort to “Save the Pygmy sloth from extinction”. To significantly increase the protection and awareness of Isla Escudo de Veraguas as a unique habitat, the pygmy three-toed sloths are even being used as a flagship species through long term collaborations with Panamanian authorities and local communities. However, we must still strength the laws hold on the island to protect the species as well as continue to improve out awareness programs promoting Bradypus pygmaeus as a necessary species to protect.