Pregnant Sloth Gives Birth!

This week the Dudley Zoo & Castle in the West Midlands, UK, announced the birth of a rare Linne's two-toed sloth, the first sloth born at the zoo in its 85-year history.

Zookeepers were at once overjoyed and surprised, as they had not realized that three-year-old Flo was in the family way until rather late in her term.

“Unlike other species, it was difficult to guess if Flo was pregnant,” said zoo curator Richard Brown. “Gestation is typically around six months long, but over recent weeks keepers began to notice movements in Flo’s stomach and we managed to confirm the pregnancy with a fecal sample. It was a lovely surprise for staff to discover the baby, especially as Flo wasn’t showing signs of being in labor during the day.”

The name – and the sex – of the unbearably adorable baby is yet to be determined. Flo had been shacking up with a male twice her age, six-year-old Reggie, since August 2020. “The baby seems healthy and alert as it snuggles up to mum, who is doing wonderfully and taking first-time motherhood in her stride, while dad, Reggie looks on proudly!” Brown enthused.

The Linne’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) is a native of northern South America. Although the IUCN currently designates the arboreal species of “least concern,” their numbers are decreasing as they lose rainforest habitat.

The Dudley Zoo has video up at youtube.com/watch?v=5-XF3RiRbpo.

Photo credit: Dudley Zoo