Anyone know if it's one single individual? Or any other info?
Huahin safari Thailand has three toed sloth
- Thread starter Flat headed cat
- Start date
This might lean towards speculation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the images went through some AI program to edit and “smooth out” (for lack of a better term) before PR staff feel comfortable enough to upload the images online.
I mean, three-toed sloths have been known to be floating around in private hands in the US for at least a few years. Plus they have been kept in their native range. Is is really unbelievable for one to show up in Thailand?
I have read reports of three toed sloths being smuggled into Mexico, but they all mention that the poor animals died after being confiscated because they were in bad conditions due to their special diet and needs which were not met. I have never seen one in Mexican zoos, which is were most confiscated animals in this country end up.
Four years ago, the Japanese animal dealer imported several pale-throated sloths. Just like Japan, Thailand has a large exotic pet trade, so it’s no surprise to see rare sloths in zoos and private facilities in a country that exploits so many wild animals.
Source: 日本初入荷のノドジロミユビナマケモノと再入荷のオリンゴのが到着です
Source: 日本初入荷のノドジロミユビナマケモノと再入荷のオリンゴのが到着です
Has there been any reason given why so many people jumped to the first photos being photoshopped besides pure skepticism of there being three-toeds in Thailand?? Imo looking at the photos they do genuinely just look like photos that aren't taken too well, the first photo although the head of the sloth is out of focus (which is i guess why people thought it wouldn't be genuine?), the rest of it all seems to track and if doctored not obviously or 'poorly' so, you can clearly see in the first one the focusing was on the boy, with the front of the sloth being too far forward and thus out of focus/blurry, you can sort of track where the sloth 'comes back into focus' and all the details of the sloths fur against the boys body means either they used a perfect sloth arm prop for the boy to hold or went in and textured in all the fur!!
The second photo the 'inaccuracies' Lafone suggests I simply just don't see and it looks like a perfectly normal phone photo, the 'inexplicable darkness' is somehow perfectly preserved on all 3 visible persons if 'doctored in' (or more realistically just some form of shade..) and the boys arm 'magically changing tone' doesn't seem all that special to me considering tan-lines exist aswell as lighting... Also don't see anything too weird going on with hands? The only full hand visible seems just pixelated due to being taken by a phone.
The second photo the 'inaccuracies' Lafone suggests I simply just don't see and it looks like a perfectly normal phone photo, the 'inexplicable darkness' is somehow perfectly preserved on all 3 visible persons if 'doctored in' (or more realistically just some form of shade..) and the boys arm 'magically changing tone' doesn't seem all that special to me considering tan-lines exist aswell as lighting... Also don't see anything too weird going on with hands? The only full hand visible seems just pixelated due to being taken by a phone.
Yeah the first photo does not at all look photoshopped to me.
I suppose we will never know about the photoshopping (and I suppose it doesn't really matter anyway!)
To me, it still looks as if both the initial pictures were photoshopped, maybe the sloths weren't ready to be out with people, maybe they hadn't arrived at the zoo yet but the zoo still wanted to advertise them, any number of reasons!
To me, it still looks as if both the initial pictures were photoshopped, maybe the sloths weren't ready to be out with people, maybe they hadn't arrived at the zoo yet but the zoo still wanted to advertise them, any number of reasons!
What about the first photo suggests photoshopping to people?
The sloth's arm that the child is holding looks very different to the rest of the body. And the lower right of the sloth's back doesn't really match with the background, almost like it's been cut out of another image and stuck on.
Of course this could just be the strange angle and now that we've seen other, better, pictures and videos it doesn't matter anymore. But when that original weird looking image was the only evidence of a very rare taxon in captivity appearing in a little-known zoo outside it's native range then I think some scepticism was warranted.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I blew it up to look at it and it looked edited and it still does. It’s also lacking in any quality compared to their other images. I didn’t know whether they had the animal or not as mentioned and I don’t think it’s more or less likely they did based on where they were. But the second of the images is the one I looked at and I’d still maintain it’s a terrible edit. The latest images are obviously far better pictures. Well except for the fact people are cuddling a sloth.
I strongly suspect one of these will be the explanation.
Perhaps, all need reminding that Thailand is a country where these kind of imports might possibly and more likely happen and go under the radar of most western zoo afficionados!
More importantly, our esteemed local poster whose professional knowledge, personal contributions and deep understanding of the local Thai zoo scene I deeply value and respect is just way out of anyone's league more knowledgeable and up-to-date than most others here on what goes on in and where the Thai Zoo Parks Organisation is going.
Finally: I do hope the next post(er) will start looking at what Hua Hin Safari actually has to offer as a zoological facility (allthough I am not sure how accredited they are with the national zoo authority).
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Zz123
Well-Known Member
When I first saw the picture of the three-toed sloth, I wasn’t 100% convinced because the photo raised some doubts. I honestly wanted to drive there to see it with my own eyes. Unfortunately, I’ve been very busy lately, so I decided to check out photos, videos, and other information on the zoo’s Facebook page. After seeing more details, I am now 100% confident that they indeed have a three-toed sloth.
Hi!
I'll be visiting Huan Hin Safari next week to see the sloths!
I asked the zoo about the animals yesterday, and confirmed that they are still there.
According to the zoo, they will be only be visible to visitors during a special showing session between 2:00 PM and 2:40 PM everyday. The animals will be off exhibit on other times.
I'll update here with photos and a visit report soon!
I'll be visiting Huan Hin Safari next week to see the sloths!
I asked the zoo about the animals yesterday, and confirmed that they are still there.
According to the zoo, they will be only be visible to visitors during a special showing session between 2:00 PM and 2:40 PM everyday. The animals will be off exhibit on other times.
I'll update here with photos and a visit report soon!
The visit report will be both an interesting read and probably be a first on the Hua Hin park.
Hi!So, today I went to meet the sloth at Hua Hin Safari!
One animal was on exhibit in front of the Liger exhibit during a "special greeting time" between 2PM and 2:30 PM.
Note that this animal is not visible outside this time.
The zoo has 3 animals, but only 1 is tame, so usually they will only bring 1 animal to the greeting. Visitors were allowed to touch and even hug the animal under staff supervision.
So...
If anyone wants to go, watch out for the schedule!
I'll post a species list of the zoo next week.
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Well, these (excellent) pictures certainly aren't photo-shopped!
Glad you got to see one!