Slow moving sloth holds up traffic in Brazil

Traffic was brought to a standstill as a sloth stopped motorists on a busy road for 15 minutes in north-western Brazil on Monday.

Carlos Tapia, who was held up by the inconvenience, filmed the slow-moving creature as it took its time making a crossing from one side of the Sooretama Forest Reserve to the other.

Large traffic jams formed on both sides of the road as the sloth merrily slid across the warm tarseal, unconcerned with the honking vehicles.

Mr Tapia said he contacted animal authorities’ Eco101 about the animal’s safety.

"If the animal continues to stay on the road, signalling will be set up to avoid it being injured,” a statement said.

“We can also deploy the biological reserve team for the correct handling of the animal."

The sloth did make its crossing safely and Eco101 said there are signs and cameras along the route to help warn motorists of animals on the road.