COLORADO SPRINGS – The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo announced the birth of a new member of the zoo’s sloth family.
A Hoffman’s two-toed sloth was born Tuesday afternoon. The baby appears to be strong, and first-time mom, 19-year-old Chalupa, is exhibiting quality maternal instincts.
The pregnancy came as quite a surprise for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo keepers and staff, when it was first discovered during unrelated veterinary testing. First-time parents, Chalupa and Bosco, had shown no signs of breeding in the four years they’ve lived together at the zoo. However, sloths are nocturnal, so breeding could have occurred after zoo hours.
“Sloths are famously adored for their slow-motion lifestyles,” said Joanna Husby, Monkey Pavilion animal care manager. “Even successful breeding and conception can take longer for sloth parents than other animals. This baby was worth the wait, though. It’s pretty cute, with dark fur, really dark eyes and the most adorable little nose. Chalupa and the baby are bonding well, and we’re excited to watch this little sloth grow up.”
The zoo says the baby’s gender won’t be known for months and there is no immediate plan to name the sloth.
