A bridge honoring Patience the Sloth marks the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery’s third wildlife crossing and The Sloth Conservation Foundation’s 400th installation.
On July 16, 2026, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery shared news of a new route through the rainforest canopy for sloths, monkeys and other wildlife in Costa Rica. Created through the Museum’s latest partnership with The Sloth Conservation Foundation, the crossing honors Patience the Sloth at the Boonshoft Museum’s Discovery Zoo.
The project is both the Museum’s third sloth bridge and a conservation milestone: it is the Foundation’s 400th Sloth Crossing wildlife bridge.
A Safer Route Through a Fragmented Rainforest Canopy
The new bridge stands along the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, where it reconnects an important biological corridor used by two- and three-toed sloths, monkeys and other rainforest species, including the endangered Central American spider monkey. Sloth populations across all species are also declining, making habitat protection and reconnection increasingly important.
Strong storms brought down large trees in the area and opened new gaps in the canopy. Those gaps can make travel more difficult and dangerous for wildlife that lives in the trees. By using the bridge to move between trees, animals can avoid descending to the ground, where traffic, dogs and other hazards may threaten them.
A camera trap and 12 months of maintenance are included with the installation. These measures will help The Sloth Conservation Foundation monitor wildlife use and keep the bridge supporting the corridor.
“This project connects our guests in Dayton to real conservation work happening thousands of miles away,” said Tracey Tomme, president and CEO of the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. “Patience has helped so many visitors fall in love with sloths and learn why rainforest conservation matters. Honoring her through a bridge that protects wild sloths and other wildlife is a meaningful extension of our mission.”
One Bridge in a Growing Conservation Network
The Sloth Conservation Foundation designs its Sloth Crossing wildlife bridges to restore habitat connectivity wherever storms, development, roads or power lines fragment the rainforest canopy. The crossings provide animals with a safer way through the trees and help reduce the risks they face when forced to travel on the ground.
Meet Patience at the Discovery Zoo
Guests can meet Patience, a Linne’s two-toed sloth, at the Boonshoft Museum’s Discovery Zoo. Through its animal ambassadors, the Discovery Zoo introduces visitors to wildlife from around the world and the conservation challenges those animals face.
The Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Support Conservation at EcoBash – Forest Faire
The Museum will continue bringing rainforest conservation closer to local audiences during EcoBash – Forest Faire, its largest fundraising gala of the year. The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, from 6 to 10 p.m. With fewer than 50 tickets remaining, guests are encouraged to reserve their seats for an evening celebrating natural history, conservation and the future of the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery.
This year’s live auction includes two travel experiences connected directly to the Museum’s sloth bridge conservation work:
- A two-person, all-inclusive getaway: a five-night stay in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo or Costa Rica, with all meals and beverages included.
- A Costa Rica stay for eight people: a seven-day, six-night visit to Playa Herradura or Playa Hermossa, ideal for a large family or four couples.
A portion of the funds raised through these auction packages will support the construction of a new Sloth Crossing wildlife bridge through The Sloth Conservation Foundation. Winning bidders may have an opportunity to name a new bridge, forming a direct connection to rainforest conservation.
EcoBash supports the mission of the Dayton Society of Natural History and its $10.5 million capital campaign, A River Runs Through Us. The campaign will help power the next phase of the Museum’s transformation and bring Dayton’s natural history and water story to life for future generations.
Reserve EcoBash tickets and find event details.
About the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, operated by the Dayton Society of Natural History, is a place for science, natural history, discovery and hands-on learning in Dayton, Ohio. Through exhibits, programs, collections and the Discovery Zoo, the Museum connects visitors of all ages with the natural world and inspires curiosity, conservation and lifelong learning.
About The Sloth Conservation Foundation
The Sloth Conservation Foundation protects wild sloths in Costa Rica through research, education, community-led conservation and habitat restoration. Its Sloth Crossing wildlife bridges reconnect fragmented rainforest canopy and provide safer passage for sloths and other arboreal wildlife.