In fact, they are not lazy, but slow.
The sloth is a true example of energy-efficient expenditure among mammals. Its digestion and metabolism operate in a slowed-down mode, as it is impossible to obtain much energy from the leaves they consume.
Only when a female has offspring does she become more active. Interestingly, sloths can swim, although they do so clumsily, but quickly, as floods and river overflows often occur in tropical forests.
In Russian, the name of these animals is indeed related to the word 'laziness,' while in English they are called sloth — from the word 'slow,' which more accurately reflects their nature. The Latin name of the animal — folivora — translates to 'leaf eaters.'
