The Denver Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a new baby sloth on Friday, May 12, 2023. Parents Charlotte and Elliot welcomed their fourth baby, a healthy and strong Linne’s two-toed sloth pup. The pup is currently nursing like a pro and can be seen with its mother in the Tropical Discovery building by zoo-goers.
Sloths have a gestation period of 10 months, and they typically give birth to one baby in the trees. Newborn sloths are about 10 inches long and weigh up to 13 ounces. They climb onto their mother’s belly and cling to her while nursing for up to five weeks. Sloth pups stay with their mothers for nine months before moving out on their own.
The zoo’s animal care team is still determining the baby’s sex and name through a DNA test. Once the results are in, the zoo will announce the baby’s name and gender. In the meantime, visitors can enjoy watching the new family bond and grow.
