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 Aviarios del Caribe, the only sloth rescue, research and rehabilitation center in Central America, has rehabilitated and released over 40 sloths. Adult sloths with permanent disabilities are kept at the center for scientific behavioral research, observation of their natural history and for the environmental education program at Aviarios. Currently the program cares for 57 sloths.
Project Goals:
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Create school programs for children to visit Aviarios to learn about the environment and the animals within it, especially sloths.
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Raise funds to buy and protect the remaining portion of the island in the sanctuary, and buy more land adjacent to Aviarios for protection. |
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Create an ongoing exotic wildlife veterinary scholarship fund for Costa Rican veterinary students to travel abroad to study exotic wildlife medicine and return to work in Costa Rica, specifically at Aviarios.
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Create a scientific research center for the study of sloths at Aviarios.
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Aviarios needed to update their educational curriculum and develop a school field trip program. Melanie Sorensen, Minnesota Zoo Education Interpretive Naturalist, volunteered with Aviarios in 2005 spending a month in Costa Rica utilizing her curriculum writing skills to revamp their curriculum and design their field trip program. Her volunteer opportunity also included:
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caring for sloths in rehabilitation |
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assisting with the Costa Rican Environmental Education Program
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giving tours of the center to tourists
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writing curriculum for the environmental education program
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The Minnesota Zoo’s U. S. Seal Conservation Fund provided $1400 to Melanie to cover her travel costs and provide some money for supplies for the sloths and curriculum needs at the facility.
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