Dear Editor,
A few days ago a three-toed sloth was seen in the burning sun on a road in Campbellville. A concerned citizen called for help. Before the rescuers arrived, the “owner” recaptured the sloth and disappeared. With help from people around the area, the sloth was located in a nearby yard. There was a thick leather belt around his neck, perhaps to control him. The belt was so stiff and tight that it had to be cut off with a sharp knife to give the suffering animal relief. He was so traumatized that the rescuers had to cut the branch he was on in order to get him out of the tree.
Since his capture the sloth had not eaten any food or managed to drink any water. They don’t. Three-toed sloths cannot live in captivity. They are the embodiment of freedom. The three-toed sloth harms no-one and damages nothing. He eats what he needs. He leaves everything else for others. He spends most of his time in the trees but he’s a good enough swimmer to cross our creeks when he is ready.
We have no idea what goes on in his head but we know that it is something. Up to date scientific research proclaims what any reasonably intelligent human being already knows – animals feel and think. Animals love. Animals grieve. Animals, especially wild animals, hate captivity more than anything else in the world. The cruellest thing to do to any living being is to take away its freedom. Even humans, who pride themselves on being the most superior species, come out of jail worse than when they went in.
The sloth was taken to the zoo for a health assessment. Then he was taken up the highway, still clinging in terror to his bit of branch, and released far away from human predators. He was last seen speeding (for a sloth) up a tree, restored to himself and his place in the world.
Thank you to the hotel manager, the Campbellville Fire Service, the Zoo, Syeada, Hans, the grandsons in the yard, the man on the chair who missed nothing, the gardener, the fruit people and all the other citizens who contributed to helping a terrified and innocent animal to return home.
Article 36 of the Constitution states that, “The well-being for the nation depends upon preserving clean air, fertile soils, pure water and the rich diversity of plants, animals and eco-systems.” Our moral, spiritual and physical well-being as a nation is diminished every time a wild animal is captured, injured or killed. We have to stop taking animals from the wild. We have to stop destroying their habitats. We have to stop injuring and killing wild animals. If there are conflicts
between humans and animals, then the primitive killing instinct, which still dominates some humans, must be controlled by reason, and we must use our creative genius as a species to live in harmony with the rest of nature.
To develop as a nation, we must first develop as a people to feel compassion for life, and love for genuine freedom.
Yours faithfully,
Melinda Janki
