During the school day, one student climbs a tree. Another hangs upside down from a branch. 

The teachers can’t help but smile as they watch. After all, their students are cute animals called sloths. 

Welcome to sloth school at Toucan Rescue Ranch! It’s a wildlife center in a country called Costa Rica.

One student climbs a tree. Another hangs upside down from a branch. 

The teachers can’t help but smile. Their students are animals called sloths. 

Welcome to sloth school at Toucan Rescue Ranch! It’s in a country called Costa Rica.

People at the wildlife center show baby sloths how to live in the wild. They give sloths tools to learn how to climb. They tie a rope between rocking chairs. The rope rises and dips as the chairs move. It sways like a tree branch.

The sloths practice on the rope. They can fall off without getting hurt. 

“We give them chances to make mistakes,” says Andrés Sáenz Bräutigam. He’s a veterinarian who helps care for the sloths.

“Mistakes help them learn,” he says.

Sloths in the wild eat all sorts of plants. Young plants are better for them. Sloth students are taught to choose fresh plants instead of dry leaves. 

People at the ranch show baby sloths how to live in the wild. They teach sloths to climb. They tie a rope between rocking chairs. The rope rises and dips as the chairs move. It sways like a tree branch.

The sloths practice climbing on the rope. They can fall off without getting hurt.

“We give them chances to make mistakes,” says Andrés Sáenz Bräutigam. He’s a veterinarian. He helps care for the sloths.

“Mistakes help them learn,” he says.

Sloths eat all sorts of plants. Young plants are better for them. Sloth students learn to choose fresh plants instead of dry leaves. 

1. Why do the sloths at the rescue center need human help?
2. How do a sloth’s claws help it live in its rainforest home?
3. What is the section “Lessons for Life” mostly about?

1. Why do the sloths at the rescue center need human help?
2. How do a sloth’s claws help it live in its rainforest home?
3. What is the section “Lessons for Life” mostly about?