Two-toed sloths crossed an important conservation line in late 2025. Hoffmann's two-toed sloth and Linnaeus's two-toed sloth were added to CITES Appendix II, bringing their international trade under a permit system for the first time.
The decision does not mean that every two-toed sloth is endangered, and it does not create a complete ban on trade. It means countries must keep a closer record of animals crossing borders and check that exports are legal and will not harm wild populations. For an animal increasingly sold as a pet, attraction or selfie prop, that paperwork matters.
What changed at CITES CoP20?
At the twentieth meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, countries adopted a proposal led by Brazil and supported by Costa Rica and Panama. The proposal covered Hoffmann's two-toed sloth, Choloepus hoffmanni, and Linnaeus's two-toed sloth, Choloepus didactylus.
The decision was agreed in December 2025 and took effect after the usual 90-day period. As the International Fund for Animal Welfare reported, the proposal passed by consensus. It was a rare piece of encouraging news in the complicated world of wildlife trade.
You may also see these animals called two-fingered sloths. That name is anatomically more precise because all living sloths have three toes on their hind feet. The familiar “two-toed” label refers to the two long digits on each front limb.
What does Appendix II actually mean?
CITES has three appendices. Appendix I generally contains species threatened with extinction and permits commercial international trade only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II is different. It allows regulated trade, but shipments need the correct CITES documents.
Before an export permit is issued, the exporting country must be satisfied that the animal was obtained legally. Its scientific authority must also determine that the export will not be detrimental to the species' survival in the wild. This is called a non-detriment finding.
The new listing therefore creates traceability. Authorities can record where animals came from, where they are going and whether claims of captive breeding stand up to scrutiny. It also helps countries build a clearer international dataset instead of trying to understand trade through scattered national records.
That distinction is important: Appendix II is a guardrail, not a magic shield. It cannot stop domestic trafficking by itself, restore a cleared forest or guarantee good welfare after an animal reaches a licensed facility. Enforcement, honest records and lower consumer demand still decide how useful the protection becomes.
Why was Hoffmann's sloth listed?
Hoffmann's two-toed sloths live from Central America into north-western South America. Globally, the species has been assessed as Least Concern, but that broad label can hide struggling local populations. Habitat fragmentation, roads, dogs, power lines and wildlife capture can all hit the same population at once.
Humane World for Animals' account of the CITES decision says illegal capture for international trade had increased over the previous decade. It identifies demand for pets, tourist encounters and captive displays as major drivers.
IFAW also notes that two-toed sloths reproduce slowly and often fare badly after capture and transport. That makes origin checks crucial. A sign saying “captive bred” is not proof when the supply chain is hidden.
Why list Linnaeus's sloth too?
Linnaeus's two-toed sloth was included partly as a look-alike species. The two species can be so difficult to distinguish that genetic analysis may be needed to identify captive animals correctly. If only Hoffmann's sloth were protected, a trafficker could label it as the similar unlisted species and make enforcement much harder.
Linnaeus's sloths also face trade pressure in their own right. According to IFAW, recorded live imports to the United States rose from 59 animals in 2012 to 160 in 2023. The increase makes better international records valuable even beyond the look-alike problem.
Listing both species closes that identification loophole and gives officials a reason to inspect the paperwork for either one.
Why sloth selfies are part of the story
The trade does not begin at a border. It begins with demand. A visitor sees a small sloth offered for a cuddle, pays for a photo and may never see the capture, transport or mortality behind the encounter.
The Sloth Conservation Foundation explains that rising demand for selfies and wildlife attractions helped drive the case for the new listing. Sloths may look calm while being held, but stillness is not consent or proof of comfort. They are specialised wild mammals with demanding diets, temperature needs and slow reproductive lives.
The kinder choice is simple: watch wild sloths from a respectful distance, never pay to hold one, and avoid venues that use direct contact as entertainment. Choose guides and conservation groups that keep animals in the canopy and people on the ground.
A strong step, not the finish line
Appendix II gives two-toed sloths something conservationists badly needed: a shared international rulebook and a paper trail. If permits are checked properly, it becomes harder to disguise wild-caught animals and easier to spot suspicious trade patterns.
But the law works best alongside connected forests, wildlife bridges, careful rescue and rehabilitation, responsible tourism and informed visitors. Stronger border controls can slow the pipeline. Protecting the sloth's home, and refusing to create demand for a sloth in our arms, helps stop that pipeline at its source.
