We’re celebrating International Sloth Day by sharing some updates about our six two-toed sloth residents. Slow down with us as you read all about what our sloths are up to these days!

 

Higgins

Age: 1 year, 5 months

Currently residing: Higgins lives in a behind-the-scenes habitat adjacent to the Lands of Change Theater in our Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond loop!

What Higgins is up to: Our youngest sloth resident is serving as an ambassador for his species at the Zoo! He’s been an animal ambassador since December of 2021 and was chosen to represent his species because he was hand-raised by animal care staff, so he was able to create a positive association with humans. Higgins is comfortable and confident around large groups of people, and his keepers worked with him on target training and introducing him to novel locations from a young age – making him an ambassador superstar! “We do everything at his pace, which is typically slow,” said Erin Corry, Animal Ambassador Keeper. “Because of this, Higgins is both fun and challenging to work with as training sloths requires a good deal of patience!” Some of his favorite foods include hardboiled egg, steamed carrot and cucumber. When he isn’t out for a Keeper Chat, he’s spending time in his enrichment-filled habitat napping or exploring. If you’re interested in meeting Higgins, come check out our Training Tales chat at the Lands of Change Theater on the weekends at 11 a.m.! He’s most likely to be out at those times, although he can always choose not to participate.

 

Indie

Age: 1 year, 6 months

Currently residing: Indie lives with sloths Sammy and Tango in the two white-faced saki monkey habitats in Rainforest Revealed. These two habitats are connected by a high tunnel system, where our three female sloths spend most of their time!

What Indie is up to: Indie is no longer traveling on mom Sammy these days, so she’s spending her time as an independent young sloth! Typically, a sloth will stay directly on their mom for around six months and then slowly transition off until they are around a year old. Indie took a little bit longer than most, but she is finding her own way and can be spotted traversing through the two saki habitats!

 

Lorenzo

Age: 4

Currently residing: Lorenzo lives in a Rainforest Revealed habitat near our cheetah, Pepper, and shares a space with Gemma the Amazon parrot.

What Lorenzo is up to: Lorenzo spends much of his time “hanging out with or on his favorite keepers,” said Sidnee Santana-Mellor, Rainforest Revealed Supervisor. This sloth was hand-raised, making him very comfortable with humans. Lorenzo also participates in training and loves snacks!

 

Tango

Age: 9

Currently residing: Tango lives with sloths Sammy and Indie in the white-faced saki monkey habitats in Rainforest Revealed. These two habitats are connected by a high tunnel system, where our three female sloths spend most of their time!

What Tango is up to: Keepers often spot Tango snuggled up close to Sammy in the overhead tunnel connecting their Rainforest Revealed habitats. Tango gets snacks from keepers and also participates in training sessions!

 

Sammy

Age: 17

Currently residing: Sammy lives with sloths Indie and Tango in the white-faced saki monkey habitats in Rainforest Revealed. These two habitats are connected by a high tunnel system, where our three female sloths spend most of their time!

What Sammy is up to: Now that offspring Indie is independent, Sammy spends her days napping near Tango in the overhead tunnel, training with keepers and enjoying snacks.

 

Dustin

Age: 19

Currently residing: Dustin shares a Rainforest Revealed habitat with our golden lion-headed tamarins.

What Dustin is up to: Our oldest sloth’s favorite thing to do is squish himself into the small hammocks that are meant for his much-smaller roommates. Dustin very much embraces the motto “If I fits, I sits.” Fortunately, golden-headed lion tamarins Brissa and Eduardo don’t mind sharing! This sloth is content on his own and will not live with another female sloth unless we decided to give them the opportunity to breed in the future. Breeding this species is not in our plans at the moment, but that could change based on a Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

 

Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths are native to the rainforests of northern South America. In their natural range, sloths help disperse native plants by swallowing seeds in one location and defecating them elsewhere. While sloths do not make good pets due to their very specific dietary and veterinary needs, you can get your sloth fix on your next visit to the Zoo!

---

Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.