Go Wild

The Tulemar Resort is like a large zoo. Monkeys do gymnastics in the trees, macaws fly majestically through the air and sloths do what they love to do best, they are lazy. You are in the midst of the indescribable diversity that Manuel Antonio offers. Of course, the curious tourist always has one or two experiences with the animals that live here.

It's just before midnight. My husband, who can't sleep, is sitting on our balcony when he notices a tapping noise. Shortly afterwards, cupboard doors open and close. It's time to take care of everything and catch the intruder. He carefully sneaks up and surprises a raccoon as he is searching the cupboard for something to eat. Both freeze in shock. The thief with the mask and my husband. The raccoon quickly regains his composure and tries to escape through the kitchen window, which he succeeds on the second attempt and after some crime scene photos that my husband takes. That evening the raccoon's foray was unsuccessful. But we are very sure that he will come back with reinforcements. We will be prepared.

This morning I was woken up around 5:00 a.m. The howler monkeys seem to be in a roaring mood today and are communicating loudly throughout the jungle. Since I'm awake anyway, I might as well go for a short morning walk, I decide and set off. The silence is only broken by the sounds of the animals here. Howler monkeys and squirler monkeys make themselves comfortable in a huge tree. The tree seems to be alive, there is such a hustle and bustle here. The noise the howler monkeys make doesn't seem to bother their roommates at all. On my way through the complex I meet agouties (who look like a cross between a pig and a rat) who are looking for their breakfast, delicious fruit. A female howler monkey with her baby shimmies on a rope stretched for the sloths to the nearest tree and safely to her husband, who is already calling her loudly. I decide to get up early more often because that's when the complex is full of life.

Today we have another tour of the Tulemar. We go on the sloth walk.

The Tulemar is also home to the Sloth Institute, which was founded in 2014 by the Englishwoman Sam Trull and specializes in the rescue, breeding and care of sick sloths and sloths rescued from captivity. The animals are prepared for life in the wild and research is carried out into sloth behavior, eating habits and development.

With a large group we go in search of the sloths that roam freely in the Tulemar and of course we find them and also hear moving stories about the animals.

Tilly makes herself comfortable in a tree. Tilly was caught and presented as a pet to tourists, who pay a lot of money for the perfect photo with the cute animals. This is a punishable offense in Costa Rica. An employee of the Sloth Institute discovered the animal during an excursion and called the police. When Tilly arrived at the Sloth Institute, the animal was in terrible condition. Her skin was inflamed and she had digestive problems. The volunteers managed to nurse Tilly back to health and she is now the mother of four little sloths.

Elsa is sleeping in another treetop. Elsa was found hanging from a tree branch, screaming. She was barely older than 5 months and was abandoned by her mother. An examination of the little lady revealed that her legs were paralyzed due to an injury she must have sustained in a fall. The little one was cared for at the Sloth Institute. She received everything the orthopedic repertoire could offer, from massages to acupuncture, and lo and behold, the treatment was successful and Elsa can use at least one of her legs. Recently, the staff at the Sloth Institute have been observing the young lady's steady weight gain, which suggests that a sloth boy had an amorous adventure with her and that Elsa will soon become a mother. I am very touched by these stories and am pleased that with the fee for the walk, 100 percent of which goes to the institute, I can make a small contribution to supporting the great work of the many carers.

Our guide also tells us a funny detail about the life of sloths.

Sloths only have to do their business once a week. When they get down from their tree, they have a huge belly. When they reach the bottom, they do a little dance to get their digestion going. Only then do they get rid of their eaten ballast and climb their tree with a third less body weight. What does a dancing sloth look like?

A great tour comes to an end. Tonight we're going into the jungle to see the animals of the night.

I am excited.

S