Adult female run over in Juquiá underwent delicate surgery, relearned how to live in trees and now returns to the Atlantic Forest
A story of new beginnings ended among the branches of the Atlantic Forest. After 60 days of treatment and rehabilitation at the Wild Animal Triage and Rehabilitation Center in Registro (SP), an adult female sloth (Bradypus variegatus) returned to nature in a preserved area of the Carlos Botelho State Park, under the management of , linked to the (Secretariat of Environment, Infrastructure and Logistics of the State of São Paulo).
The animal arrived at the center in February 2026, after being run over on the side of a highway in Juquiá. The rescue was carried out precisely at one of the rare moments when sloths come down from the trees: every 7 to 10 days, they go to the ground to urinate and defecate – and it is during this silent and slow movement that they end up more vulnerable to being run over.
Despite not having serious injuries to other organs, she suffered severe injuries to one of her hands. 2 of the 3 claws on the left front limb were fractured and needed to be surgically amputated. Half of the 3rd claw was preserved.
Sloth claws have a very particular structure: they are bones covered in keratin — the same material present in human nails and hair — and function as real “hooks”, essential for the animal to be able to remain hanging and move between the branches for practically its entire life.
Adult female run over in Juquiá underwent delicate surgery, relearned how to live in trees and now returns to the Atlantic Forest. After the surgery, a long recovery period began. The veterinary team monitored the animal’s clinical evolution daily, with care aimed at controlling pain, feeding and adapting to the new physical condition. Little by little, the sloth began climbing again, moving between branches and eating normally.
“Sloths are extremely delicate animals in rehabilitation. They have very specific needs and any change can generate significant stress. Seeing this female recovered, adapted and ready for free life again is very rewarding for the entire team.”, highlights Hanna Sibuya Kokubun, head of department at Cetras de Registro.
Considered extremely sensitive in captive environments, sloths require very specific care related to temperature, food and environment. Therefore, the case was celebrated by the team as an important rehabilitation success.
The release of a healthy female of reproductive age also represents a gain for the conservation of wild fauna in the Atlantic Forest and reinforces the role of Cetras in the rescue and recovery of Brazilian species.
“In addition to the animal’s clinical recovery, the choice of the release area within Carlos Botelho State Park was essential to increase the chances of successful reintegration into nature. The region has environmental characteristics very similar to the area where the animal was rescued, with preserved vegetation, food availability and forest connectivity compatible with the species’ needs. Returning it to a Conservation Unit also contributes to strengthening the local population of Atlantic forest sloths, especially as it is an adult female capable of reproduction.”, highlights the manager of Carlos Botelho State Park, Nathalia Zandomenegui.
This is not the first story with a happy ending involving sloths in . In July 2025, another individual rehabilitated by the unit was returned to the forest in the municipality of Registro, in a release carried out by the secretary of , Natália Resende.
With information from .
