Sloth Trapped in Roadway Gets Helping Hand from Police

It’s not uncommon to catch a glimpse of a deer dashing across the road at night, but rarely do we see a sloth — the world’s slowest mammal — attempting to traverse a busy thoroughfare.

Police in Quevado, Ecuador, however, came across that very scene after receiving reports of a sloth found clinging to a traffic barrier in the middle of the street.

Officers from the Ecuador Transit Commission were able to successfully rescue the sloth from its dangerous hiding place. Following the rescue, the sloth was examined by a veterinarian, who determined that the animal was in “optimal condition” and could be safely returned to its habitat.

The story doesn’t end there, though, as photos shared by the officers who rescued the sloth instantly went viral on Facebook, garnering nearly 20,000 shares and international media attention.

In a statement, transit officials say that they are “grateful to all who were interested in the health of the animal” and pledge to “continue to support these kinds of cases” and support collaboration with citizens.

From Discovery News