The Maned Sloth is a close relative of the three-toed sloth (count the toes) but unlike its cousin is restricted to the threatened rainforests of coastal Brazil. Known as "the Atlantic Forest" this is one of the most important global hotspots of biodiversity - almost everything here lives nowhere else. It is also one of the most endangered tropical forest ecosystems on earth.

Where once great forests stretched for 1000 miles or more along Brazil's coastline, two of the largest cities on the planet have grown - Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro.  Not surprisingly, much of the habitat for this sloth, and many other species, is left in woeful tatters or has vanished altogether.

This rare sloth was being re-released into the wild after being cared for at a rehabilitation center in Bahia state.  Because of the backlighting sky, I chose to use a flash as the sloth started up a small forest tree. This is one of many pictures of rare animals that I have provided to Arkive, the global database of endangered species. 

 

Nikon D2x camera, with Nikkor 17-35mm f2.8 lens

Life, Color, Drama, Reality .... No Digital Manipulation

 

 

Kevin will be serving as the National Geographic photo lecturer on two voyages this year aboard the "National Geographic Explorer".

August 2010 : Polar Bears of Arctic Svalbard , For more information, click here.

November 2010 :  South Georgia and Antarctica.  For more information, click here.