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Peaking into the world

[SLOTH ACROBATICS] 
One day in Panama city I walked to a market on a forested hill, Cerro Ancon. The market was just beginning and different flavours of popular Reggaeton tunes were being blasted from tinny sound systems, seemingly from all directions. Unfortunately for a local sloth, he had overnight chosen a tree right above the central activities of the daytime market, which were encroaching on the forested area. With the realisation of human chaos beneath its tree, the sloth was desperately trying to make an escape to nearby trees without having to climb down its own tree. Unfortunately for the sloth, the nearby trees were not so nearby. In this process of escape the sloth demonstrated some magnificent displays of acrobatics (and energy!) that I did not realise were possible for a sloth. It was fascinating to see the fluid, yet also awkward movements of such a strange creature. But it left me with a heavy feeling of guilt (and helplessness) as I watched this sloth's distress. I am pleased to say that eventually the sloth's efforts were rewarded and he safely made it to the arms of nearby branches, where he clambered away more quickly than I've ever seen a sloth do so.

PANAMA | Friday, 5 July 2013 | Views [1499] | View Smaller Image

[SLOTH ACROBATICS] One day in Panama city I walked to a market on a forested hill, Cerro Ancon. The market was just beginning and different flavours of popular Reggaeton tunes were being blasted from tinny sound systems, seemingly from all directions. Unfortunately for a local sloth, he had overnight chosen a tree right above the central activities of the daytime market, which were encroaching on the forested area. With the realisation of human chaos beneath its tree, the sloth was desperately trying to make an escape to nearby trees without having to climb down its own tree. Unfortunately for the sloth, the nearby trees were not so nearby. In this process of escape the sloth demonstrated some magnificent displays of acrobatics (and energy!) that I did not realise were possible for a sloth. It was fascinating to see the fluid, yet also awkward movements of such a strange creature. But it left me with a heavy feeling of guilt (and helplessness) as I watched this sloth's distress. I am pleased to say that eventually the sloth's efforts were rewarded and he safely made it to the arms of nearby branches, where he clambered away more quickly than I've ever seen a sloth do so.

Tags: sloth, panama, nature, acrobatics

 

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