Green Heritage Fund Suriname - The Sloth Wellness Centre - An interview with Monique Pool, founder and director
Although Suriname is still largely covered with rainforest, the sloths are loosing their habitat due to deforestation and urbanisation. But one special animal sanctuary is trying to help these peace-loving sloths and other animals in the Xenarthra group; the armadillos and anteaters. The animal rescue centre, known as the Sloth Wellness Centre is run by the Green Heritage Fund Suriname, a charitable nonprofit organisation.
Last week I visited the Sloth Wellness Centre in Saramaca, Suriname. I met the founder and director Monique Pool and had an interview with this amazing woman. I also met a few of the many volunteers who are doing a lot of fantastic work. Not only to protect the sloths but wildlife and our environment in general.
Monique Pool - Founder and Director Green Heritage Fund Suriname
Monique rescued her first sloth in 2005. Returning from the airport with a friend she saw something in the back mirror and shouted stop! Please watch part 1 of this interview and meet this remarkable woman who has been featured on the BBC world service, CNN Heroes and Deutsche Welle, just to name a few.
It was in 2012 that in a short period of time, more than 200 sloths had to be rescued as a result of a deforestation project on privately owned land - to make way for agriculture. This meant that Monique ended up with 17 baby sloths in her living room. It was time for a sloth rescue centre.
The centre is situated at the edge of the rain forest which is fairly intact and stretches out for hundreds of miles all the way into Brazil. The centre is built from reused shipping containers and is completely off-grid: it's solar-powered by 30 solar panels. In the future I will write an article about this because I’m convinced that many of you will be interested.
The Green Heritage Fund Suriname was established in October 2005 and runs various programs. One of the main programs is the Xenarthra program. (As I mentioned before, the Xenarthra order includes the sloths, armadillos and anteaters.)
While there’s an occasional anteater to be found at the centre, the main animals in need of rescue are the sloths. Most of these sloths come from urban forests where they lose their habitat because of urbanisation. Some of them end up in people's gardens and then the centre is called to pick them up. The sloths will be released in the wild after examination as quickly as possible. Of course, many other situations occur that require the help of the centre. Around 150 animals a year are rescued by Monique and her volunteers.
At the moment there are only five sloths at the centre, including two baby sloths. They are being fed with their favourite leaves and imported goats milk. It’s important to note that all direct human contact is avoided as much as possible. The cuddly toy in their tub functions as a surrogate mother. And when it’s necessary to pick them up, to weigh them for instance, it’s done so by using the toy mother. For their return in the wild it’s important that they don’t bond with humans too much.
Two other sloths are being prepared for their return into the forest. Their enclosure is situated at the edge under the trees. They have stayed at the centre for quite a while now so slowly they are getting reacquainted with their future home.
The centre's a cool place to hang out, it seems - some of the sloths who've been released into the forest drop back in to say hello from time to time!
This post is just an introduction post to this fantastic initiative made possible by Monique and all the volunteers and donors. I offered my services to Monique as a cameraman and video editor and I’m ever so honoured to present their remarkable achievements in future posts.
Photograph: (c) Stellar Tsang - Green Heritage Fund Suriname
There are many other programs run by the GHFS, like the Dolphin Program. Next month I'll do another interview with Monique when we will visit the dolphins at Braamspunt. I'm very excited to share the foundation's important work preserving the dolphins habitat and protecting them.
I hope you will join me next time. Then I'll discuss the sloths in more depth and share the second part of the interview with Monique Pool.
Much love,
Gardenbsquared
Reading this and I long for personal success so as, in some small way, I can help initiatives like this - either through contribution or getting my voice heard. I appreciate you sharing this - inspiring. And Sloths seem to be everywhere at the moment here on Steemit! xox
Thanks. I hope they will decide to get on to Steemit. Then we can support them by simply upvoting. I didn't know that sloths are so popular at the moment.
I guess you can be "their voice" on Steemit and we will support you for sure!
Nice video @gardensquared, it was really good to hear her say how visitors only get to see Sloths when they are released as that is what the centre is for. Thanks for sharing, you should put it up on dtube.
Thank you. Yes, the centre is not a zoo. I was lucky enough to see it. I tried dTube, I've always have problems with it. It's probably because of the slow internet.
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STOPWow, that is so great! I did not know that in Suriname it is also a problem of urbanization destroying the natural habitat of wild species and trees! Thank you for sharing this information with us! I can't volunteer yet but maybe one day will visit%) They have some problem with Paypal link on the main page I still managed to find my way but if you come there next time just say it to Monique so they can fix it!
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