Photo: Courtney Hamm, Senior Zookeeper
Along with keeping a firm grip on her new kid, Lunesta is also nursing the newborn. The Linne’s Two-Toed Sloth Species Survival Plan (SSP) — a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) — paired the sloth mom with Nero. The breeding recommendation has been fruitful and boosts the wild sloth population since it helps maintain the species' genetic diversity.
Courtney Hamm, Senior Zookeeper
The Linne’s two-toed sloth is native to the tropical forests of South America. They survive on a primarily vegetarian diet and sleep up to 15 hours a day. Like other sloths, this animal spends almost all its life in the trees where it can expertly move through and hang in the branches. While a sloth may remind some of a monkey, the sloth’s closest relatives are anteaters and armadillos, per the Stone Zoo.
source: people.com
