October 20, 2010 Three Toed Tree Sloth

Every now and then we go exploring up a river in the dinghy. Usually to get water, but I take a camera and binoculars just in case. You never know what you might find. Today was no exception.

We rowed up the river near Portobelo.

 As the river winds its way into the mountains, the vegetation changes from mangroves to more of these type trees and large fern like plants

Birds are everywhere. These silly creatures kept flying up river in front of us. We can only keep going in one direction. They have 360 degrees of options. eventually, they stayed put and we passed by.

And so I'm looking up into a tree right on the river bank and there's this large ball of hair. At first I think it's a nest. Then I saw movement. Verrrry sloowwww movement. I get the camera out of the dry bag.

It's a Three Toed Tree Sloth! I'm so excited. I get out of the dinghy trying to get a better photo....I walk all around the trunk of the tree in gooey cow poop and river mud, but the best photo was this first one from the dinghy!

Did I mention...they move really really slow....