Osita, a three-toed sloth, was rescued in January 2020 by a group of interns of our center from the Peruvian University of the Amazon. She had been kept as a pet by a family in Iquitos, but when she became visibly ill, they began looking for a place to take her.

The students intervened and brought Osita to RAREC, where she arrived suffering from tympanism, an excessive buildup of gas in the digestive system. In sloths, it often results from an improper diet. Our team immediately provided her with fluids and necessary medications, and with dedicated care from staff and volunteers, she made a full recovery. After her rehabilitation, Osita was released back into the rainforest, where she now thrives in her natural habitat.