Zoo Team Take On Virtual Cycle Across Costa Rica In Memory Of Baby Sloth

Staff at Drusillas Zoo Park are taking on a cycling relay to raise money for a sloth charity, in memory of their baby sloth, Athena, who died at six months old.

They'll be using a stationary bike at the park for the whole day on Friday 26th August, raising money for the Park's Conservation Charity of the Year - The Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo). The charity work tirelessly in Costa Rica to protect sloths in the wild.

SloCo will use the money raised to build a sloth bridge in Costa Rica, where a plaque will be put up in Athena's name, and a sloth backpack and collar used to track and observe how wild sloths are interacting in the increasingly urbanised habitat.

Head keeper Gemma Romanis said:

“Athena was perfect in every way, reaching every milestone in her development, and proving herself to be the gentlest natured infant. She was a huge character here at the Zoo, and everyone fell in love with her. It was a huge shock when we lost her as she had never exhibited any signs of discomfort in her daily health checks.”

Gemma continued:

“On the contrary, she appeared to be making wonderful progress but life is not always that simple. Veterinary investigation after her death found that she had a digestive tract illness which developed significantly over a 24 hour period and was the root cause of her passing and sadly we were told that nothing could have been done to save her. Our keepers and staff at the Park are all devastated, and so we wanted to do something to use her legacy to help sloths survive in the wild through SloCo’s research.”

The team are aiming to cycle 120km which is the distance from one side of Costa Rica to the other. Participants are be made up of experienced cyclists and beginners among the team who cycle in a continuous relay to try and help rack up the miles. The fundraiser will be held in the Events Arena at the Park and visitors are encouraged to cheer the team on and donate if they can.

The indoor exercise bike has kindly been donated by JTX Fitness from their newly renovated home gym fitness equipment shop and showroom in West Sussex.

The team at JTX commented:

"JTX Fitness are delighted to support the Drusillas team and SloCo with the loan of our indoor exercise bike. As a local Sussex home fitness shop we love supporting fundraisers to achieve fitness challenges to raise money for worthwhile causes.”

About SloCo:

Without donations and support, charities like SloCo simply can't survive. Every donation helps, however small. So Drusillas urge sloth fans to dig deep and help protect the population we have left before it's too late.

Donations can be made on the day at the Park, or via the JustGiving link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Drusillas-Park-sloco

Sloth populations are in decline throughout South and Central America as they struggle to adapt to the urbanisation of the rainforest. Saving the world’s slowest mammal from extinction now requires innovative and long-term conservation solutions that target both human and sloth populations.

The Sloth Conservation Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation that aims to protect sloths in the wild through research and conservation initiatives. They have developed a range of community-based strategies and programs that provide sustainable ways in which humans and sloths can coexist peacefully.

SloCo runs seven primary conservation programs that help to protect sloths in the wild. These include: insulating power lines, sterilising stray dogs and teaching responsible pet ownership skills to local communities, building natural or artificial canopy bridges, educating the next generation, responsible tourism campaigns, and habitat restoration and protection.

Located just off the A27 in Alfriston, Drusillas Park is open daily from 10am. For more information please telephone 01323 874100 or visit www.drusillas.co.uk