why sloth are slow Sloths have an extremely low metabolic rate, leading them to crawl sluggishly through the trees. On average, they travel just 41 yards per day—less than half the length of a football field!
Is there a reason why sloths are slowTheir metabolic rate is only about 40-45% of what would be typical for their body weight. Because of this specialized metabolism, sloths need to be frugal with their energy use. So, they move slowly and tend not to wander far from their small home ranges
Do sloths ever move fast? With their plethora of energy-saving adaptations, sloths physically don't have the ability to move very fast. And with this, they do not have the capacity to defend themselves or run away from predators, as a monkey might.