01of 12GettyOh hi there! We’re just hanging out to celebrate International Sloth Day, happening today, Oct. 20. But it’s much more than a time to stare at cute pics of these snuggly guys:according to the Sloth Conservation Foundation, Oct. 20 “is a day to recognize an important member of tropical ecosystems.” Let’s learn some more!02of 12GettyPer the foundation, sloths are “grazers of tropical ecosystems,” helping make way for new greens and serving as an important part of the food chain.03of 12Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via GettyDid you know these little fellas have been on Earth for more than 64 million years? No wonder they move so slow!04of 12HENDRIK SCHMIDT/dpa/AFP via GettySpeaking of speed, the Sloth Conservation Foundation sees the notoriously leisurely animals as a great reminder of the fact we all need to slow down once in a while.05of 12GettyThough they might be among the cuter animals in our world, sloths don’t make good pets: just check those nails!06of 12GettyBut they sure are lovable,as noted sloth fan Kristen Bellcan attest.07of 12GettyAccording to the Smithsonian National Zoo, some sloths were once the size of elephants, but these days, generally max out at 17 lbs.08of 12GettyHard to believe we snapped this guy with his eyes open, given that sloths sleep 15 hours per day, the zoo says.09of 12GettyThey also spend much of their life hanging upside-down.10of 12Education Images/Universal Images Group via GettyThis one almost looks like he’s wearing a disguise.11of 12Federico Meneghetti/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via GettyWhile many zoos house sloths, chances are you won’t see them in the wild if you visit their native South and Central America, since they spend their days among the tree tops and don’t frequently come down.12of 12GettyThankfully, they’re photogenic (like in Lucy Cooke’s bookLife in the Sloth Lane) and today, we’ll be perusing photos in their honor.For more on sloths — including how to help types that are endangered — visitslothconservation.org.
01of 12GettyOh hi there! We’re just hanging out to celebrate International Sloth Day, happening today, Oct. 20. But it’s much more than a time to stare at cute pics of these snuggly guys:according to the Sloth Conservation Foundation, Oct. 20 “is a day to recognize an important member of tropical ecosystems.” Let’s learn some more!
01of 12
Getty
Oh hi there! We’re just hanging out to celebrate International Sloth Day, happening today, Oct. 20. But it’s much more than a time to stare at cute pics of these snuggly guys:according to the Sloth Conservation Foundation, Oct. 20 “is a day to recognize an important member of tropical ecosystems.” Let’s learn some more!
02of 12GettyPer the foundation, sloths are “grazers of tropical ecosystems,” helping make way for new greens and serving as an important part of the food chain.
02of 12
Per the foundation, sloths are “grazers of tropical ecosystems,” helping make way for new greens and serving as an important part of the food chain.
03of 12Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via GettyDid you know these little fellas have been on Earth for more than 64 million years? No wonder they move so slow!
03of 12
Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty
Did you know these little fellas have been on Earth for more than 64 million years? No wonder they move so slow!
04of 12HENDRIK SCHMIDT/dpa/AFP via GettySpeaking of speed, the Sloth Conservation Foundation sees the notoriously leisurely animals as a great reminder of the fact we all need to slow down once in a while.
04of 12
HENDRIK SCHMIDT/dpa/AFP via Getty
Speaking of speed, the Sloth Conservation Foundation sees the notoriously leisurely animals as a great reminder of the fact we all need to slow down once in a while.
05of 12GettyThough they might be among the cuter animals in our world, sloths don’t make good pets: just check those nails!
05of 12
Though they might be among the cuter animals in our world, sloths don’t make good pets: just check those nails!
06of 12GettyBut they sure are lovable,as noted sloth fan Kristen Bellcan attest.
06of 12
But they sure are lovable,as noted sloth fan Kristen Bellcan attest.
07of 12GettyAccording to the Smithsonian National Zoo, some sloths were once the size of elephants, but these days, generally max out at 17 lbs.
07of 12
According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, some sloths were once the size of elephants, but these days, generally max out at 17 lbs.
08of 12GettyHard to believe we snapped this guy with his eyes open, given that sloths sleep 15 hours per day, the zoo says.
08of 12
Hard to believe we snapped this guy with his eyes open, given that sloths sleep 15 hours per day, the zoo says.
09of 12GettyThey also spend much of their life hanging upside-down.
09of 12
They also spend much of their life hanging upside-down.
10of 12Education Images/Universal Images Group via GettyThis one almost looks like he’s wearing a disguise.
10of 12
Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty
This one almost looks like he’s wearing a disguise.
11of 12Federico Meneghetti/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via GettyWhile many zoos house sloths, chances are you won’t see them in the wild if you visit their native South and Central America, since they spend their days among the tree tops and don’t frequently come down.
11of 12
Federico Meneghetti/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty
While many zoos house sloths, chances are you won’t see them in the wild if you visit their native South and Central America, since they spend their days among the tree tops and don’t frequently come down.
12of 12GettyThankfully, they’re photogenic (like in Lucy Cooke’s bookLife in the Sloth Lane) and today, we’ll be perusing photos in their honor.For more on sloths — including how to help types that are endangered — visitslothconservation.org.
12of 12
Thankfully, they’re photogenic (like in Lucy Cooke’s bookLife in the Sloth Lane) and today, we’ll be perusing photos in their honor.
For more on sloths — including how to help types that are endangered — visitslothconservation.org.
source: people.com
