Ecuadorean Police at It Again, Rescue Owl from Highway

ECUADOR -- Transit police in Ecuador became famous after images of their sloth rescue went viral last month.

Ecuador's transit police rescued yet another adorable animal Friday, this time an owl that had become stranded on a highway in the province of Los Rios.

 

The owl was taken to veterinarian for a check-up and will be released back into the wild when ready.

Transit police in Ecuador shot to fame last month when they helped a very frightened sloth who was clinging to a highway partition. Images of the sloth rescue went viral, appearing on multiple websites and were even featured on daytime U.S. television.

 

The officer in that case, Israel Bustamente, went on to receive official recognition for his efforts to help the sloth.

Ecuador's most famous sloth eventually made his way back home.

Transit police seemingly have a big heart for the country's animals, a dog who was abandoned and left tied to a tree was rescued Tuesday.

Transit police say they welcome the publicity and have begun promoting these actions with the hope that such deeds become “contagious” and officers and citizens do more to help animals in need.

Ecuador's Transit Commission and the Ministry of Transport also have a campaign in place calling on drivers to slow down should they see animals crossing the road.

(Telesurtv.net - Feb 12, 2016)

Ecuador: Police Who Rescued Celebrity Sloth Receive Award

ECUADOR -- The sloth rocketed to fame when photos of the police operation went viral, attracting the attention of global media.

It was the rescue of the year that had the whole world gripped.

A sloth: clinging for dear life to a partition, stranded in the middle of a busy highway.

A traffic police officer: prizing the odd-looking fella off the barrier before taking it into his arms and later releasing him back into the wild. Hollywood material, really.

And now, the story has taken a heartwarming twist.

The police officer, Israel Bustamente, is going to receive official recognition for his valiant endeavour, the Ecuadorean Environment Ministry has announced.

Environment Minister Daniel Ortega said, “No one obligated our colleague who controls traffic to do what he did, it is laudable, we are going to reward him.”

Bustamente and his colleagues can now put the award on their resumés.

On Jan. 22, Bustamente, with his colleagues Hermy Aguayo, Jorge Rodriguez, Luigi Ruiz and Manuel Vera stepped in when they saw the sloth hugging a metal barrier in the middle of a highway in Los Rios.

After the operation, in which the animal was prized off the barrier, the agents confirmed that they returned him to his natural habitat.

The sloth, not used to life in the fast lane, was suddenly rocketed to fame when photos of the daring operation went viral and were reported on by the world’s media.

Back in the forest, he's a happy sloth

Ecuador’s transit police told teleSUR that this was not the first time they had rescued a sloth, and that they had saved other creatures in the past year, including a toucan.

(TeleSurTV - Feb 4, 2016)

Related:

• Comisión de Tránsito del Ecuador Facebook