CITIZEN-PROPOSED ISSUE PAPER Date: 08-27-2015 ISSUE: Putting the Two-toed Sloth on the unregulated list for CO DISCUSSION (FACTS AND FIGURES, EXPLANATION OF ISSUE): See attached WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE? HAVE YOU COMMUNICATED WITH ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES? WHAT INPUT HAVE YOU RECEIVED? I may be the only person interested in this animal as a pet. I’ve not heard from anyone since I began this endeavor. When I bring it up to people I know, they’re shocked that anyone would want to own one. That being said, I live in a smaller community, in the larger cities they may be more desirable. Everyone that I do tell are thrilled to be able to know someone who owns one and would love the opportunity to pet one. ALTERNATIVES: PLEASE INDICATE THE PROBABLE OUTCOME IF THIS PETITION IS ACCEPTED, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVES TO THIS PETITION: This would allow me to be able to obtain a sloth as a pet. As demonstrated in my proposal, there are no adverse effects on the current wildlife or their habitat by allowing the sloth to be unregulated. If we can’t put them on the unregulated list, I would like it to be considered making it possible for a permit to be issued to own one. PETITION PROPOSED BY: Darcy Sanborn PETITION WRITTEN BY: Darcy Sanborn DATE SENT TO THE 08-27-2015 COMMISSION: 1 WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE? HAVE YOU COMMUNICATED WITH ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES? WHAT INPUT HAVE YOU RECEIVED? Recent interest in sloth care and it’s status in the wild is wide spread. People with an interest in preserving the delicate balance of the rainforest always have a keen interest in what they can do to preserve it’s inhabitants. Domestic imports of two toed sloths into the U.S. number 119 annually, most of which go to the private sector. These are the people most effected by exotic animal regulations. With significant new hurdles now accomplished, successful sloth husbandry has become something possible to people in areas of the U.S. previously impossible including Colorado. In an increasing hands on approach to environmental stewardship, potential, and present sloth keepers want to be part of the groundwork to preserve this animal by being a member of a network of keepers with the intent of captive breeding. Only with the participation of qualified keepers will the captive population of U.S. sloths be developed and available if and when, the status of the sloth changes. Sloth keepers as well as the scientific community agree, we are entering the next great era of extinction. We will witness the loss of many great species. Since the earliest recordings of animal species to present day we have lost over 50% of the animals that inhabited the earth. Sloth keepers believe in a hands on approach to rainforest stewardship. So little is known about the habits and requirements of the two toed sloth that if a significant number of people don’t step in, it’s future may be threatened. Only by allowing the keeping of sloths in the private sector, will the accumulation of animals in this invisible Ark be established. When we refer to the invisible Ark we refer to the vast holdings in the private sector of rare and endangered animals, legally and responsibly kept. These animals are maintained without state or federal funds, they require no donations, trusts, or contributions. They are simply maintained by the focused intent of the private keeper. Although the other keepers I’ve had communication with are not Colorado residents they have encountered similar regulations which group sloths as exotic animals that were prohibited or in need of regulation. With education the state of Utah recently amended their regulations for the city of Salt Lake to allow a private keeper to obtain a sloth. Other states with climates more suitable for invasive species from the rainforest allow sloths with simple class 3 permits, including Florida and Texas. As a U.S. citizen one of the inalienable rights I’m entitled to is the pursuit of happiness, regulations restricting my importing a non-invasive and harmless animal into Colorado to further conservation stands in the way of my pursuit of this happiness. ALTERNATIVES: PLEASE INDICATE THE PROBABLE OUTCOME IF THIS PETITION IS ACCEPTED, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVES TO THIS PETITION: Allowing the deregulation of two toed sloths in Colorado will show the state’s willingness to examine and change laws which put unreasonable hardship on animal keepers when shown evidence of them being non-invasive, harmless and of no threat to native wildlife, agriculture or residents. Recognizing the benefits of homegrown efforts to preserve vanishing species by adjusting regulations goes a long way to show the state of Colorado has a commitment to the needs of it’s residents. Acceptance of this petition specifically allows the authorized import and keeping of the two toed sloth. An acceptable alternative would be to allow a permit to be issued without the changing of the regulations that would exempt the petitioner and allow the import and keeping of a two toed sloth. 2 3 To whom it may concern; I am writing to request your consideration in the matter of allowing the Two-toed Sloth to be included on the unregulated list for wildlife in the State of Colorado. Species: Choloepus Linnaeus (Linnaeus' Two-toed Sloth) or Choloepus Hoffmann (Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth). Family: Megalonychidae, Genus: Choloepus. I would like both species considered for the list. The two-toed is the only type of sloth that can live in captivity; therefore, I would not consider the three-toed as an option. In this proposal I will answer all of the questions necessary to make your determination. I would first like to stress the fact that Sloths, by nature, are NOT aggressive or dangerous. They are docile and slow moving. The fact that they are tropical and live in the rain forest means the Sloth does not have the ability to survive on its own in the climate of Colorado. In the event they would "escape" or even be let go on purpose, the Sloth would perish on its own. We don't have their natural food source, nor can they maintain their own body temperature; therefore the cold temperatures in CO are not conducive to life for them. In the event they were to escape, sloths move so slowly that they would be easily recaptured. They do not mate with any other species; therefore, there is no jeopardy of inter species mating. They only mate once a year and only have one off spring. Their gestation is 9 to 11 months and they only mate if their current infant is completely weaned and on its own. They are solitary animals and very slow, so there are times when they miss the mating season all together, which is commonly “the dry season” in the wild. There is no danger to agriculture or native wildlife as previously stated Sloths cannot survive out of captivity in this State. They require humidity and warmth in order to survive. Their natural habitat is the rain forest; CO is not close to that. Sloths are not dangerous; they are herbivores, so they will not prey upon natural wildlife, or any animal. In captivity there is a specific diet which can be purchased online; Marion leaf eater food. You supplement their diet with spring mix lettuce and sweet potatoes. They also eat carrots, green beans and squash. Sloths can take up to one month to digest one meal due to their very slow metabolism. There is no danger to native vegetation as they do not eat enough to make an impact. Not to mention, they cannot survive on their own. Sloths do not have any zoonotic diseases. In their natural habitat they are a host to microorganisms and have multiple bacteria in their fur. In captivity they do not, as they don't have the same habitat. They have intestinal parasites, again not in captivity. The parasites are from their natural diet, which they don't eat in captivity. There are several studies about sloth fur. The belief is that in the wild the fungi in sloth’s fur have medicinal benefits. The studies believe that their fur contain fungi that could possibly one day help in the fight against breast cancer and treat various other diseases. The studies are still in progress and have a long way to go, but so far the results are looking favorable. I’ve had a discussion with Dr. Schotman, DVM, who currently has over 10 years experience working on sloths. He has never seen any 4 zoonotic diseases or any of the natural intestinal parasites that they have in the wild in the captive sloths he’s dealt with. Please see the attached email from Dr. Schotman, DVM for his added information on the topic. The "weediness" of sloths is nonexistent. They are not aggressive, they cannot survive, let alone thrive in CO. Sloths do not inter breed or adapt to other food sources. The natural vegetation in CO can be eaten by sloths, but they require a little more nutrients in order to sustain life, so on their own in the wild would be a difficult task at best. Finally, I contacted the Departments of Wildlife in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Idaho, and Montana, to get their regulations on sloth ownership. Nebraska is the strictest; they do not allow any wildlife that is nonnative, so sloths are prohibited.