A female sloth insistently trying to cross a busy road in northern Costa Rica was helped to the other side by police officers who are thoroughly experienced in this task. According to press release CP-0270-2015 from Fuerza Publica, the national police force of Costa Rica, the sloth posed a danger to herself and to traffic since she hesitantly hugged the edge of the road near a curve, which forced drivers to take sudden evasive maneuvers.

The rescue, which happened last Wednesday, took place in the rural canton of Upala, province of Alajuela. The officers were traveling from Downtown Upala to Bijagua on the main road that connects this community with Cañas; as they were going by the Buena Vista community, they noticed irregular traffic near a bend. As the officers investigated, they noticed that some drivers had already pulled over to try to catch the sloth using a leather jacket.

Officer Hernandez is a veteran of the Upala beat, and thus he is thoroughly familiar with these situations. Over the years as a rural police officer in Costa Rica, he has helped not only sloths cross the road but also turtles and even caimans. When Officer Hernandez arrived on the scene, he warned the Good Samaritans that improper handling of the sloth could result in injuries caused by the sharp and strong claws.

In the end, the officers found a long tree branch near the side of the road and used to invite the female sloth to climb. Most sloths would find a solid tree branch irresistible, and such was the case this time. The sloth was then transported across the road, where she eagerly climbed a tree and continued on her way.

It is important to note that many visitors to Costa Rica only know sloths from television programs and websites produced in rescue centers, where they see humans handling sloths in an affectionate manner. The humans starring in these shows are usually experts in handling wildlife, and the sloths have likely been domesticated through a rescue process since young.

Sloths in the wild may appear docile and friendly, but they should not be touched. In Costa Rica, there are a few wildlife rescue centers where humans can enjoy interacting with domesticated sloths to a certain extent. In some rural communities, some sloths may have already bonded with residents, and thus locals will know which sloths can be approached for closer interaction; still, they should not be touched or fed.