Look at that face. Look at it. Over the centuries, people have derided sloths for being either stupid or lazy or a combination of both, but have you ever thought they might just be onto something? After all, they always kind of look like they’re smiling. Don’t you wish you could have that serene expression on your face every now and then? If you don’t, you should.

Everyone deserves to relax every now and then. International Sloth Day is in fact about two things: learning to take a lesson or two in being as cool as a cucumber from the sloths of the world, and raising awareness about the many sloths that get get injured, captured to be sold as pets, or even killed by humans. So help keep those sleepy smiles on sloths’ faces and take part in this year’s International Sloth Day!

The History of International Sloth Day

International Sloth Day was created by AIUNAU, a non-profit foundation dedicated to protecting all forms of wildlife. The AIUNAU members in Columbia have been working with sloths since 1996, as they became appalled to find out how many sloths every year were being killed by cars or power lines, and how many other were being captured to be made into household pets.

Once they rescue a sloth, they nurse it back to health, and then proceed to release it back into the wild, where it belongs. International Sloth Day was established in November 2010 as a way of helping people get to know a little more about these shy, quiet creatures that are known for their tenderness for one another and keep them from going entirely extinct, as several species of sloth have already.

​5 FACTS ABOUT THE DAILY LIFE OF A SLOTH

1. They’re s-l-o-w

   ​Because sloths have a slow metabolic process they usually only relieve themselves once per week.

2. ​Just hanging around

   ​Sloths are arboreal animals, meaning they spend most of their lives in trees.

3. ​Camouflage at a whole new level

   ​A sloth’s fur hosts a vast ecosystem of moths, bugs, and algae — which taints their furs green and is used as camouflage in the trees.

4. Are you looking at me?

   ​Three–toed sloths are able to turn their heads nearly 360 degrees.

5. Aging gracefully

   When sloths survive possible poachers and captors, they can live anywhere between 10 and 30 years!

INTERNATIONAL SLOTH DAY DATES