CUTE BABY SLOTH RESCUE

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In the Amazon, there are many types of wild animals that wander out of the jungles and into the cities, but the one that gets the highest points for cuteness is the Sloth...

In this series, we've taken a look at some scary creatures that can show up in the cities of Brazil's Amazon region, but when a Sloth shows up most people don't get scared, they just get all gushy and want to hug it.

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They're cute! They're cuddlee, and they can bring a smile to almost anyone's face. But as much as people love Sloths, the city is a dangerous place for these lovable little creatures. That's why the men and women of the BPA are always out rescuing these furry little guys and returning them to the wild.

Today we are with Lt. Macedo Chaves and his fellow soldiers who are responding to call about a baby sloth that was found at the edge of town.

The sloth turns out to be what they call here Preguiça de Bentinho. This 3 toed member of the species is also known as a Pale-throated Sloth and is common to the area. The males usually grow up to 22 inches tall and weigh around 13 Lbs. The female grows to 30 inches and weighs up to 14 lbs.

Lt. Macedo estimates this little sloth is no more than 2 months old but has no idea how it got separated from it's mother. One thing he does know is that this little critter will be a lot more comfortable with a pillow.

You know, the thing that really amazes me about Sloths is how they have survived for so long. How can such a docile animal not been driven to extinction eons ago by some of the more aggressive animals in the rain forest? I mean they aren't even considered endangered.

Their incredible slowness is legendary. Their top speed on the ground is only 6.5 feet per minute. And they have zero aggressiveness. So what gives?

Well, it turns out Sloths have a few things going in their favor. Those extreme claws they have are not only lethal, but allow them to live up in the tree tops where they can hang for long periods of time. This keeps them out of reach of many predators - like the Jaguar.

Their slowness actually helps when they are up in the trees. It gives them a stealth like invisibleness because they don't attract attention moving that slow.

Sloths also have the ability turn their heads up to 270 degrees without moving the body. This makes it very hard for anyone to sneak up on them.

It may not seem like much, but it adds up to pretty good defense system that's kept them going for millions of years. And as the soldiers of the BPA will tell you, It's never easy capturing an adult sloth...

Once in the hands of the BPA -- the Sloths are taken back to the soldier's headquarters. They are then housed and fed until they can be examined by a veterinarian. Once that is completed, they are returned to the wild when possible.

JUST THE FACTS

The pale-throated sloth is a species of three-toed sloth that inhabits tropical rainforests in northern South America. It is similar in appearance to, and often confused with, the brown-throated sloth, which has a much wider distribution.

Scientific name: Bradypus tridactylus

Higher classification: Three-toed sloth

Gestation period: 182.6 d

Rank: Species

Tail length: 4 -- 6 cm (Male, Adult)

Mass: 0.3 kg (At the age of one month), 3.2 -- 6 kg (Adult, Male), 3.8 -- 6.5 kg (Female, Adult)