Costa Rica Wild & Fun

Sloths are known for being slow and quiet, but their way of finding a mate is surprisingly loud.

A female three-toed sloth does not search for a partner. Instead, she climbs to a high point in a tree and calls out with a sharp, high-pitched scream. These calls echo through the forest and act as a signal to nearby males.

When males hear her, they respond quickly. Sometimes more than one arrives, and fights can break out as they compete for her attention. Once a male reaches her tree, mating usually happens right where she was calling from.

This strategy may seem unusual, but it is efficient. Sloths move slowly and live far apart, so calling saves the female energy and increases her chances of attracting a mate.

Fun fact: sloths sometimes mistake their own arm for a tree branch, grab it, fall, and become history.