A postcard from Colombia: a three-toed sloth in a city park
A three-toed sloth
Last February we travelled to Costa Rica, hoping (among other things) to see sloths. And we did. But it never occurred to me to hope to see them in one of Colombia’s biggest cities.
Yet in a small park in Cartagena, the Parque Centenario, we found not only a small troop of tamarin monkeys but also a family of three-toed sloths.
This isn’t a zoo, the sloths and monkeys are free to come and go. But of course they don’t go because the park is a small island of greenery in a sea of bricks and concrete. It is fairly unassuming; you wouldn’t think to visit were it not for the wildlife. And I was surprised how easy it proved to spot the sloths. You simply need to walk through the park looking at the other people. If anyone is looking up into the trees, taking a photo, then chances are they are looking at a sloth! There were also a few helpful local guys are hanging around, who seemed happy to point out the animals without expecting a tip, again to my surprise.
I haven’t been able to find much information about the animals and how they come to be her. However according to Culture Trip ‘they were rescued and released in the park years ago’.
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rkrontheroad
Hmmm… didn’t know they were such attractive creatures. The fur looks well groomed and the face expressive.
Sarah Wilkie
Oh I’ve always found sloths sort-of cute!
Wind Kisses
Fun! And funny how all you have to do is look at others…first.
Sarah Wilkie
True – and actually, as a general rule I find it often worthwhile to look to see where someone else is pointing a camera if it seems an unlikely place. You never know what they may have spotted!
equinoxio21
Amazing. I did see a sloth in Colombia, just once. Many years ago. But that was in the Amazon, near Leticia, at the border with Brazil and Peru.
I guess it¡s happy there…
Sarah Wilkie
There’s apparently a whole family here although we just saw one. Or possibly two – we saw one on our way through the park at the start of a morning’s explorations, and one on our way back. We couldn’t be sure if it was the same one or a different one as all sloths look pretty similar to us and so did most of the trees in the park!
equinoxio21
Hopefully it’s two. So the species will be preserved…
Ju-Lyn
You have escaped the cold towards much much warmer weather! What a unexpected sighting! and in a public park as well. What a treat to spot this beautiful, languid creature!
Sarah Wilkie
It was indeed a treat, as was the warmer weather 🙂 We’re back in London now and it’s cool and rainy, but was have great memories of the trip. I also have loads of photos to share, as you’ll see in my next Changing Season post (and many others no doubt 😆 )
Ju-Lyn
Looking forward to them!
Marie
What a great opportunity
Sarah Wilkie
It was indeed!
Amy
What a wonderful adventure, Sarah! That is a special creature. Great photo capture!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Amy 😊
Max Ethan
What an interesting face. Not far removed from human features. Great photo.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Max 😀 I see what you mean abut human features – maybe that’s why many people find them so appealing!
bluebrightly
This is the kind of odd discovery that makes travel so worthwhile. Very cool!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, absolutely. It’s great to see the big sights but thee serendipitous moments are just as special 😀
Suzanne
Me and that sloth have something in common, both having a lazy hanging around sort of day 😉 Well captured, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Well we all need days like that 😀 The difference is, the sloth has no other kind of day!
Forestwood
They are a curious creature.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, very intriguing 😀
grandmisadventures
Oh this picture just made my whole day! Great picture of such a gentle creature 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Aw that’s really nice to hear, thank you 😊
Suzanne@PictureRetirement
What an interesting face. Not far removed from human features. Great photo.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Suzanne – he did pose rather nicely for me 😀
thehungrytravellers.blog
The very best thing about Costa Rica was just how accessible and easy to see these exotic creatures were…so how wonderful to see them in a city park…
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, we were thrilled to see them in Costa Rica but we’d been pretty sure that we would. Here they were a complete surprise and as the trees in the park are lower than most of those in CR, they were closer to us!
Monkey's Tale
I wish I had heard of this park before we visited!! Lucky you!! Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
I read about it in the Moon guidebook to Cartagena but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of info about it around.
wetanddustyroads
What a cute little face – as if he/she was smiling at you while you took the photo!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, they do often look as if they’re smiling 😃
Mike and Kellye Hefner
Seeing a wild sloth is way up at the top of my list! Thank you for sharing yours, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
I couldn’t believe they were just above our heads in a city park!
pattimoed
Who knew that sloths could be almost cute!!
Sarah Wilkie
Oh I’ve always found them cute!
Alison
How cute is that Sarah and to see them in a park too! They must be very used to people
Sarah Wilkie
Yes,I reckon they are. The monkeys certainly are, as people were feeding them 😀
Alison
I don’t trust monkeys 😂
Graham Stephen
🦥👍🏻👌🏻
✨🦋🐍🕊🐉🗝⚖🕯🤍⚛🎐🎋🙏✨
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks 😊 🦥🦥🦥
margaret21
Oh what a treat! Great shot too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 😊 I was thrilled to see him!
Terri Webster Schrandt
How wonderful and a great shot, Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Terri, I was pleased at how well it came out 😀
the eternal traveller
How fantastic to come across these animals. Lucky you!
Sarah Wilkie
I was amazed when we were told they were living there and really surprised at how easy it was to see them!