One of the most often shared images of sloths online is one showing them lifting their arms in the air. To the untrained eye, this movement can seem like the sloth reaching out for love, requesting a hug, or maybe thanking a human for helping her across the road. Although elegant, this reading is far from accurate.

Actually, a sloth raises its arms, usually in a protective position. Sloths are fairly delicate animals devoid of any natural defense. Their slow mobility makes escaping predators difficult; hence, they usually extend their arms to create a more threatening look when they feel threatened or disturbed. In the wild, this stance can help them dodge predators or, when necessary, get ready with sharp claws. Instead of "Thank you," they say, "Back off!"

Unfortunately, this conduct is occasionally misinterpreted in movies, which promotes a misleading understanding of sloth behavior. While anthropomorphizing animals—assigning human emotions and behaviors to them—it's important to understand that their activities have evolved for survival, not for expressing human-like emotions.

Thus, keep in mind that this is not a sign of friendship or affection the next time you come into a video of a sloth supposedly "waving" its arms. Rather, it's evidence the sloth is looking for safety from a sense of threat. Although they are very attractive, sloths' well-being depends on respect for their space and conduct, especially in contact with people.

In the end, sloths do deserve our respect and knowledge, even if they might not be asking for a hug. Knowing more about these incredible animals and their natural behaviors will help us to make sure they stay free from human intrusion and misinterpretation in their jungle environments.