Sloths
Where to see it
Animal parks only. Roatan has no wild sloth population; the ones visitors photograph were brought from the mainland. Since 2025, holding them for photos is banned.
When
Not applicable
Status
Not evaluated
The animal in half the vacation photos from Roatan, and not from Roatan at all. There are no native sloths or monkeys on the island; the ones visitors meet were brought from the mainland, many through the illegal wildlife trade, and live in animal parks. A sloth is built for a life of hanging still in the canopy and being quietly left alone, which is close to the opposite of being passed between tourists for selfies.
In January 2025, Honduras's forestry and wildlife authority banned holding sloths, monkeys, macaws and other named animals for photographs. Some parks have adapted, others are still working out what that means. Our guide to sloths and monkeys on Roatan explains where they came from, what the rules say now, and how to visit without being part of the problem.