A sloth attempting to cross a busy highway in Ecuador became frightened by the speeding traffic and decided to wrap himself around a pole. He was spotted by a kind officer who stopped to see if he was injured. After completing a thorough visual inspection, the officer picked up the sloth and took him to a veterinarian who takes care of wild creatures.
The sloth was found to be in good health and has been returned to his habitat. Due to a low metabolic rate, sloths are not able to move very quickly, which can lead to precarious circumstances like the one on the highway. They often require intervention by humans to ensure their safety and their continued health.
Following this incident, the transit commission in Ecuador took action to keep sloths and other animals safer when they attempt to cross streets and highways. A new rule requires that anyone who sees an animal in distress along a roadway must stop and attempt to give it aid or call the police for help.
A photo of the sloth on the highway was posted to Facebook and was shared more than 12,000 times by animal lovers all over the world.
