The pregnancy of a 19-year-old two-toed sloth at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo came as a surprise to zookeepers and staff members, but the baby sloth born Tuesday appears healthy, they said.
The Hoffman’s two-toed sloth was born to first-time parents Chalupa, 19, and Bosco, 27, zoo officials said in a news release. The baby’s gender is still unknown — and likely won’t be for months — so the baby sloth doesn’t have a name yet.
Zookeepers discovered Chalupa was pregnant when vets were testing her for something else, according to the release. Chalupa and Bosco had lived together for four years but showed no sign of breeding, according to zoo officials.
Sloths are nocturnal, though, so they may have been breeding in the zoo’s off-hours, officials said.
“Sloths are famously adored for their slow-motion lifestyles,” said Joanna Husby, Monkey Pavilion animal care manager at the Colorado Springs zoo. “Even successful breeding and conception can take longer for sloth parents than other animals. This baby was worth the wait, though.”
Husby called the baby “pretty cute,” and said it had dark fur and “the most adorable little nose.” The baby and mom are bonding.
Zoo visitors can see Chalupa and her baby through the Monkey Pavilion, but they will be in an exhibit that has more privacy for a few months, according to the release. Bosco will stay in the regular sloth exhibit.
