Fundación Chuwie: A sloth rescue center on the verge of shutting down in Venezuela

Juan Carlos Rodríguez drives along a forest-lined road, tossing branches onto the ground for the sloths he cares for at the Chuwie Foundation Sloth Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. The center, located in San Antonio, near Caracas, was founded in 2020 by Juan Carlos and his wife, Haydée Rodríguez. Their journey began after finding a sloth with burns from possibly being electrocuted.

Through social media posts, they gained followers and began receiving alerts about sloths in danger. Over 1,000 rescues later, their efforts now focus on providing care for the recovering animals, with one sloth serving as an educational ambassador. Sloths face threats from dogs, electricity cables, and vehicles in Venezuelan cities, prompting the foundation's daily rescues.

The couple, both professionals, learned to coordinate a team of biologists and veterinarians due to a lack of specialized literature on sloth care. Rodriguez gathers yagrumo branches for the sloths' diet, consuming around 10% of their body weight daily. His car accumulates miles from these trips, and his home-built sloth habitat has deteriorating wooden stairs.

Funding primarily comes from the couple's household, covering veterinary supplies and fuel. The ambassador sloth, Chuwie, has been featured in educational events, garnering thousands of social media followers. However, the project faces challenges, including the expiration of a mobilization permit and the lack of clear diagnostic methods for sloth health issues, such as sarcoptic mange.

With negotiations for a renewal permit and a new location for the center ongoing, the foundation teeters on the brink of closure.