Theatre CAN change the world...one sloth at a time!

SLOTH STORIES AND MONKEY TALES is an ongoing Instagram series produced by Theatre Arts School of San Diego
featuring content by student artists ages 8-14 which seeks to
*raise awareness about conservation
*promote responsible messages of stewardship
*entertain audiences with creative artwork and devised storytelling about the rainforest and its notoriously slow residents, sloths!
*create a crowd-sourced fundraising campaign to install animal crossing bridges to provide tree connection for sloths and other animals

By helping sloths, we are helping to maintain a healthy balance for the rainforest. And, a healthy rainforest is good for the whole world!

Beginning Earth Day, April 22, 2022 - we will premiere the SLOTH STORIES AND MONKEY TALES Instagram page. Each day, you can watch a new video or discover a new story about SLOTHS! And that means, you not only get to see super cute photos, artwork, videos, and stories, but you will learn lots of great stuff along the way!

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!

Instagram Image Info (beginning with most recent image)

  1. Vanessa, a very fancy sloth who lives in the trees above a very fancy resort in Cocles, Costa Rica wants us humans to get our sloth facts straight. Find out why she is called a "Two-Fingered" sloth and not a "Two-Toed sloth."
    Watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/722392341

  2. Our Sloth Stories and Monkey Tales Fundraiser is LIVE! Let's save the rainforest - one sloth at a time!
    Make a donation today! The sloths will thank you! Make your donations by following the directions in the post squares!
    And, please follow the directions on our posts about HOW to donate on behalf of the Sloth Stories and Monkey Tales project.

  3. Our Sloth Stories and Monkey Tales Fundraiser is LIVE! Let's save the rainforest - one sloth at a time!
    Make a donation today! The sloths will thank you! Make your donations by following the directions in the post squares!

    And, please follow the directions on our posts about HOW to donate on behalf of the Sloth Stories and Monkey Tales project.

  4. Our Sloth Stories and Monkey Tales Fundraiser is LIVE! Let's save the rainforest - one sloth at a time!
    Make a donation today! The sloths will thank you! Make your donations by following the directions in the post squares!

    And, please follow the directions on our posts about HOW to donate on behalf of the Sloth Stories and Monkey Tales project.

  5. Our Sloth Stories and Monkey Tales Fundraiser is LIVE! Let's save the rainforest - one sloth at a time!
    Make a donation today! The sloths will thank you! Make your donations by following the directions in the post squares!
    And, please follow the directions on our posts about HOW to donate on behalf of the Sloth Stories and Monkey Tales project.

  6. Is this a termite mound, a collection of leaves, or a sloth?

  7. Trying out these shampoo and conditioner bars! It takes a little effort to find plastic-free alternatives, but these were found at @jimbosnaturally Let’s kick the plastic habit together and help our environment!

  8. BASIL, a three fingered sloth living behind a bookshop in Puerto Viejo, is not a fan of deforestation. Why? The tropical rainforest is her HOME!

    "Illegal logging for hardwoods, slash and burn agriculture, and clearcutting for agricultural and urban sprawl are huge threats to tropical rainforests. Some estimates project that more than a quarter of all animal species could go extinct within the next 50 years if this level of deforestation is not halted. There is good news though: if given half a chance, forests naturally renew themselves. Planted treelings send the message that open areas are not parking lots, canopy bridges give wildlife a safe way to continue being part of the ecosystem, and responsible ecotourism gives a financial incentive for struggling economies to invest in the future. Sloths are an excellent umbrella species for rainforest ecosystems because when we save the sloths, we save the trees, and when we save the trees, we save the world, and when we save the world, we ultimately save ourselves." - Sloth Conservation Foundation

    Watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/711443398

  9. What do you think is happening here? Hint: He is about to put on a climbing harness.

  10. Happy Sunday! These sweet sloths were rescued and cared for at @jaguarrescuecentercr ❤️🌞❤️🌞 JRC does incredible work in the South Caribbean for sloths, monkeys, reptiles, birds and more! You can visit them if you travel to this beautiful area. They are a reputable rescue center that we highly recommend.

    If you are traveling anywhere in the world and are unsure about ethical animal encounters, we recommend a little reading from the @slothconservation website: https://slothconservation.org/sloth-encounters-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

  11. "SPROUT" has a few words about ethical tourism. "Don't hold sloths!" And, @slothconservation can back SPROUT up. Check out this alarming research:

    "Not everything is great when we mix tourism and animals, and many times visitors are not aware of the negative environmental impact that some tourist activities can produce. The international NGO World Animal Protection estimates that around 110 million people a year visit attractions that offer entertainment with wild animals.

    This is a dangerous trend as over 550,000 wild animals are currently being held captive in order to supply the ever-increasing demand. In addition, photographs of people directly interacting with these wild animals often unintentionally endorse exploitation and mistreatment via social media.

    According to research completed by World Animal Protection (which counted the number of “selfies” showing people interacting with wild species that were published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), since 2014 the number of photos showing people with wild animals increased by 292% on Instagram alone, and sadly more than 40% are photos where the person embraces, holds or interacts inappropriately with the animal.

    The situation in Latin America in particular is very alarming. It was found that 17 of the 20 countries that are part of the region offer tourist attractions with wildlife. Of the 249 wildlife attractions identified, 54% offered direct contact with wild animals, 34% used food to attract the animals and 11% gave the opportunity to swim with them.

    40% of the selfies were taken by people from the Western Hemisphere including the United States, The UK, and Canada. The situation is aggravated when celebrities share to their millions of followers their own photos hugging animals because some fans tend to emulate the behavior of their influencers." - Sloth Conservation Foundation See the video at: https://vimeo.com/709292486

  12. Beautiful photo taken by a friend who has made a few awesome trips to Costa Rica. She spotted this three fingered sloth in Punta Uva. Sloths spend most of their time in the trees. Do you know why they might be on the ground? Stay tuned to learn more!

  13. Did you know…
    Sloths spend most of their lives hanging from tree branches. Their internal organs are fixed in place, so they do not trouble have breathing upside down.

  14. Look how cute this baby two fingered sloth is! This one is at Jaguar Rescue Center, located in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica. Why do you think this cutie is at JRC? Did you know that rescue centers are receiving 2-3 sloths PER DAY in the South Caribbean! What are the top reasons they arrive to these centers? Stay tuned to learn more!

  15. Another small change: switch from paper towels to reusable sponge cloths. These are made from 100% renewable resources and contain no petroleum or fossil fuel products. Each cloth is reusable and re-washable and replaces up to 15 rolls of paper towels! This helps to reduce waste. It is also certified compostable!

  16. Here are two little changes you can make in your day-to-day routine that will help the planet:
    - Switch from plastic toothbrushes to bamboo, or use a metal brush with a removable head
    - Buy recycled bath tissue that is produced without bleach or added dyes and perfumes

    Why?
    "The American Dental Association suggests that everyone replace their toothbrushes every three or four months. At that rate, brushers in the U.S. alone would go through over one billion toothbrushes each year. And if everyone around the world followed those recommendations, about 23 billion toothbrushes would get trashed annually. " - National Geographic

    According to a study conducted by the National Resources Defence Council (NRDC), using "pre-consumer recycled materials instead of virgin ones was also found to help alleviate pressure on forests, which can only be a good thing for biodiversity and animal welfare."
    The report also found that "producing recycled toilet paper requires roughly ½ the amount of water needed to make virgin paper while emitting only ⅓ of the greenhouse gases. Making recycled toilet paper also produces 40% less sulfur dioxide, the main cause of acid rain, and ½ the amount of hazardous air pollutants compared to virgin paper. Using recycled materials also helps to keep waste out of landfills, preventing further methane emissions and other pollutants from being released."

  17. "Sloths are mysterious and unusual animals that scientists still know very little about. They have many adaptations that make them unique among mammals; they have a very efficient metabolism that is excellent at conserving energy, they are masters of disguise that can fool all the senses of their predators, and they are the slowest moving mammals on the planet: a sloth at top speed can cover only 1 meter in 1.5 seconds." -SlothOpedia, Sloth Conservation Foundation
    Read more about sloths at: https://slothconservation.org/

  18. This three fingered sloth had just crossed the road and made it safely to this tree. Luckily, everyone on the road stopped their cars to let him pass. Remember to always maintain a distance of at least 10 feet from wildlife. That’s what the zoom on our cameras is for! This photo was taken about 25 feet away.

  19. "KUKULA" has a great tip for all of us humans! Take a look at the single-use plastic items you use every day. Look around - there is probably a more environmentally sound replacement for it! See the video at: https://vimeo.com/706348891

  20. When trees are cut to make way for roads and houses, the animals lose their pathway through the forest. Tree connection is vital for the survival of sloths.

  21. Where do your bananas come from? If you are lucky to live in Costa Rica, they may come from your garden. If you live here in the U.S., it is likely they come from very far away. Check the code on the sticker by going to the producer’s website.

  22. “JAMAICA” wants us to know a really cool sloth fact!
    "Do you like avocados? Do you like chips and guacamole? How about avocado toast? You can thank US for that!
    The giant sloths that we evolved from were the only animals who could digest avocado seeds. And they pooped them ALL over Central and South America." See the video at: https://vimeo.com/706348232

  23. Sometimes sloths seek shelter under rooftops. It is important to keep at least ten feet away from them. If you take a photo, use the zoom on your camera for that cute closeup.

  24. What do you do after 36 hours of non-stop rain ends? EAT! EAT! EAT! During rainstorms, sloths will curl up in a tree and “weather” the storm. In fact, a sloth's fur grows in a direction to allow rain to fall off easily while hanging in the trees. But it sure feels good to stretch those limbs in the warm sun after being so wet.

  25. One of the biggest dangers to wildlife, including sloths, are power lines. Luckily, these lines are insulated. But most are not. And most animals do not survive electrocution from power lines. To learn more, visit: https://slothconservation.org/what-we-do/power-line-insulation/

  26. Theatre CAN change the world...one sloth at a time!

  27. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Sprout
    LIKES: Avocados (since my ancestors used to eat them) and My Friend Basil
    DISLIKES: Climate Change, the Color Blue

  28. Theatre CAN change the world...one sloth at a time!

  29. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Peach
    LIKES: Almond Trees
    DISLIKES: Hunters

  30. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Basil
    LIKES: Great Literature, My Friend Sprout
    DISLIKES: Humans, Toothpick Companies

  31. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Apple
    LIKES: Not sure, no one has ever asked
    DISLIKES: Humans

  32. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Madeleine
    LIKES: Cacao Leaves
    DISLIKES: Soggy trees

  33. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Kukula
    LIKES: Moths and Cecropia Leaves
    DISLIKES: Roads

  34. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Jamaica, Mica
    LIKES: Caring People, Dogs who leave me alone
    DISLIKES: Dogs who bite

  35. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Vanessa
    LIKES: Fancy Things, Sassy Sloths
    DISLIKES: Tree Cutters

  36. Meet the Sloths!
    NAME: Aqua, Aquamarine
    LIKES: Climbing and Swimming
    DISLIKES: Littering and Plastic Bottles

  37. Meet the Sloths!
    Name: Little Miracle, LM
    Likes: Being reunited with my mom
    Dislikes: Falling out of trees