Sloths! by William Hartston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“No longer are they seen as total misfits in the modern world but, in the words of one specialist sloth investigator, they are ‘masters of an alternative lifestyle’.”
(From the book’s blurb)
This is a fun book on sloths aimed at adult readers. Yes, I do believe there are plenty of adults lurking around who want, or even need, to know more about sloths. Hartston was one of them, and so he wrote this book for us. Thank you, William Hartston.
The book tells the history of sloths as we currently know it and will teach you about the different types of sloths that exist today. You will come to realise it’s unfair, and disingenuous of some people, to call sloths lazy. In fact, they are entirely, and cleverly, built for a specific lifestyle at which excel.
They may be brutally slow movers, but it makes sense given their lifestyle. Plus they are low emissions despite all their burping, are smart – as smart as a cat or dog – yet know when to give up and take a nap, and don’t set out to hurt people. Actually, they are peaceful and shy, although they can harm with their claws when attacked or provoked. That seems fair to me and you’ve been warned.
The Pygmy sloth is, sadly, critically endangered. In general, though, sloth kind are harmed by much the same as other wildlife. This includes deforestation, traffic accidents (while they are crossing, of course, as sloths do not drive), hunting, capture for the pet trade, etc. They will, of course, be affected by climate change.
Also…sloth selfies. It’s a thing. Don’t do this. They don’t like it.
If nothing else has made you want to read this book then maybe this particular fact will: Sloths (unlike other mammals) have a body temperature that adjusts to the environmental temperature. Surely you want to know a bit more about them, now?
Okay, what if I told you they only defecate once a week and they generally climb down from their tree in order to do so? Aha! Now I’ve got your interest!
