Threats to the brown-throated three-toed sloth Bradypus variegatus Schinz, 1825 (Pilosa: Bradypodidae) in an urban environment in State of Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract

The brown-throated three-toed sloth Bradypus variegates Schinz, 1825 (Pilosa: Bradypodidae) is an arboreal mammal with wide distribution in the neotropical region. However, the presence of this species in urban environments has attracted attention due to the threats that this environment can offer to this species. In this context, the present study investigated the impacts over brown-throated three toed sloth’s population living in an urban area of Rio Tinto, Paraíba, as well as, analyze data from Wildlife Screening Center (Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres - CETAS) and the conservation units of Paraíba, to understanding threats and main factors that led individuals to these institutions. From 2011 to 2014 a sloth’s population was studied at João Pessoa Square in Rio Tinto. From 2010 to 2015 was analyzed data from CETAS, Guaribas Biological Reserve (GBR), Barra do Rio Mamanguape Environmental Protection Area (BRM-EPA) and Arruda Câmara Municipal Zoobotanical Park (AC-MZP).The place that most registered the receipt of sloths was CETAS (65.5%), followed by GBR (17.8%), AC-MZP (15%), and BRM-EPA (1.8%). Offspring were significantly more impacted than adults, because were recorded highest number of injured and dead individuals in CETAS. Offspring not survived also at João Pessoa Square in Rio Tinto (urban environment) until the reproductive phase, due to falls or the rejection of their mothers during parental care. The urbanized matrix causes changes in the parental care of the mother sloths, implying the early abandonment of their offspring. In addition, inadequate introductions of sloths at João Pessoa Square causing malnutrition in individuals due to the lack of insufficient nutrients available, and electric shocks caused by high voltage wires, resulting in death or limb amputation of adult sloths. To minimize these impacts, urban environments needs to be controlled, through tree pruning, prohibit the introductions of sloths and increase the diversity of plant species in this area.

What, where, and how: a spatiotemporally explicit analysis of the drivers of habitat loss within the range of maned three‐toed sloths (Bradypus torquatus and Bradypus crinitus)

“…Finally, the increase and establishment of land-use drivers of habitat loss can also lead to several other conflicts related to the presence or proximity of humans and their infrastructure, where arboreal animals, including sloths, can be persecuted by domestic dogs (Vaughan et al 2007) or fall victim to roadkill (Ferreguetti et al 2014), electrocution (Pedrosa et al 2021), and illegal animal trade (Carder et al 2018).…”

Anthropogenic Disturbances in a Population of Brown-Throated Sloths of the Species Bradypus Variegatus Schinz, 1825 in Urban Atlantic Forest Fragments in Pandemic Period

“…Populations decline due to inbreeding, reduction of genetic variability due to population isolation in disconnected fragments, and the advance of urbanization promotes the expansion of the road and energy matrices, fatal to individuals of B. variegatus, in addition to the susceptibility to harvesting for animal trafficking (Cullen et al, 2001;Xavier et al, 2015;Magalhães, 2015;Pedrosa, 2016;Silva et al, 2017a;De Andrade et al, 2020;Pedrosa et al, 2021). Also, molecular studies indicate that the threat levels for B. variegatus should be evaluated at the population level (Silva et al, 2017a).…”

“…Despite anthropogenic disturbances, the species B. variegatus persists in forest fragments inserted in the urban matrix (Martin, 2015;Silva et al, 2017a;De Andrade et al, 2020;Pedrosa et al, 2021). But sloths are strictly dependent upon forested habitats (Cassano et al, 2011;Neam;Lacher Junior, 2018) the species has greater vulnerability due to the reduction of its natural environment and the high susceptibility of the species to habitat changes, such as limited mobility, reduced home range and greater stress due anthropogenic disturbances (Moreno;Plese, 2006;Castro-Vásquez et al, 2010;Martin, 2015;Pedrosa, 2016;Paz;Cordeiro, 2017), which denotes their direct importance in maintaining the ecosystem where they live.…”

“…Because they are one of the few medium sized mammals in urban areas of South America, and because the need to study population level threats to sloths in urban settings (Pedrosa;Rocha, 2021), the present study aims to identify, describe and analyze anthropogenic disturbances on the population of B. variegatus that inhabits the Atlantic forest fragments on Central Campus of the Federal University of Paraíba, located in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil.…”