Deforestation and habitat degradation are an increasing threat to wildlife globally. The effects are particularly pronounced in regions where they are compounded by the expansion of human settlements and land-use changes. As behavioural adaptations are often the initial response of wildlife to environmental change, this study explores how human disturbance affects the activity of two sloth species, Choloepus hoffmanni and Bradypus variegatus. By comparing the activity of sloths living in secondary forest habitats and human-impacted forest habitats, the objective is to determine whether sloths exhibit adaptive behaviours in response to habitat degradation and human presence. Tri-axial accelerometer data loggers were fitted to sloths inhabiting secondary forest and human-impacted forest. With this tri-axial accelerometer data, three key locomotive behaviours in sloths – arboreal vertical and horizontal locomotion, and terrestrial locomotion – were identified and quantified. Linear mixed-effects (LME) model analyses of these activity budgets with respect to environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, windspeed) and habitat type indicated significant individual variation in behaviour, with the environmental factors exhibiting limited but notable effects. Individual variability may be explained by reproductive age, genetic differences and/or fine-scale microhabitat characteristics. Bradypus variegatus in human-impacted forest habitats displayed increased levels of nocturnal activity, suggesting a possible adaptive behavioural response to human presence. The response of sloths to human-impacted forest habitat is multifaceted, influenced by anthropogenic disturbance, environmental factors and individual needs, suggesting that activity patterns may be shaped through balancing external pressures and internal constraints. This study highlights the importance of individual variability in shaping sloth behaviour and underscores the need for more comprehensive studies including fine-scale habitat structure to informconservation strategies
