Sammy, while eating a peanut, takes great care of her newborn!

You heard that right! On the morning of Friday, January 4, a new face greeted us in the form of a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth. The baby’s mother, 13-year-old Sammy, has experience in raising offspring and is taking great care of the as-yet-unnamed newborn.

Sammy’s first child, Tango, is the mother of baby Lorenzo, who made headlines as the first sloth to ever be born at our Zoo. You may recall that Tango did not demonstrate interest in her baby, likely because she was a first-time mother, so the decision was made for our animal care staff to hand-raise Lorenzo.

Though Lorenzo is in great hands, we are glad to be able to take a hands-off approach and see the newest baby thrive in a more natural setting.

The newborn is also the offspring of 15-year-old Dustin, who fathered Lorenzo, too. The baby’s sex is unknown at this time as testing is needed to determine this information in sloths.

Our newest addition will remain on their mother for around six months before becoming independent. Sammy and her baby are located in La Selva, but, due to construction, are not viewable at this time. However, you might be able to spot the pair from Treetop Trek!

Known for their slow-paced lifestyle, Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths face their biggest challenges from habitat loss and the exotic pet trade in central and South America.

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