Zoo Atlanta /TMX
A sloth family at Zoo Atlanta has welcomed a new addition!
“We are very excited about the birth of Nutella’s infant,” said Gina Ferrie, Ph.D, Zoo Atlanta’s vice president of collections and conservation. “Sloths have so many fascinating adaptations and behaviors that we can share with our Members and guests, and while they are not currently classified as endangered, they have an emerging conservation story that can help us appreciate the impact of human activities on wild animals and ecosystems."
The gestation period of sloths is an unusual 11 to 12 months, the zoo said.
“We are delighted about the birth of Nutella’s infant, especially on Father’s Day,” Jennifer Mickelberg, Ph.D., the zoo’s vice president of collections and conservation, said in a statement at the time.
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Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths are native to Central and South America, per the zoo. The mammals aren’t currently classified as endangered, but face threats in the wild like loss of habitat due to illegal logging and even electrocution as they try to use power lines to navigate through “fragmented forest patches” the zoo’s statement read.
source: people.com