– Cocoa, a 30-year-old Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth at Zoo Atlanta, recently became a father on Father’s Day with the birth of an infant to female Nutella.
– Sloth pregnancies have a long gestation period of 11 to 12 months, but sloth infants develop quickly and are born fully furred, with open eyes and fully formed claws.
– Another female sloth, Bonnie, is also expected to give birth soon, bringing the total number of sloth babies at the Zoo to three.
– Zoo Atlanta supports the Sloth Conservation Project, which works to rescue and rehabilitate sloths affected by habitat loss and electrocution from power lines.
– The breeding of Nutella and Cocoa was recommended by the AZA Species Survival Plan®, which aims to maintain genetically diverse and self-sustaining animal populations in accredited zoos.
In a heartwarming story that brings joy to animal lovers and fathers alike, Cocoa, a 30-year-old Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth at Zoo Atlanta, welcomed a new addition to his family on Father’s Day. His partner, Nutella, gave birth to an adorable sloth baby on June 18, 2023. This event is exciting, especially since it is Nutella’s first offspring at six.
Sloths are known for their leisurely pace, but when it comes to their babies, they develop at a surprisingly rapid rate compared to most other mammal babies. Unlike many species that rely on their parents for nourishment and protection, sloth infants are born fully furred, with their eyes open and teeth already present. They even have fully-developed claws, allowing them to cling to their mothers from birth.
But the road to becoming a father for Cocoa wasn’t easy. The gestation period for sloths is unusually long in the animal kingdom, lasting 11 to 12 months. During this time, pregnancies are not quickly confirmed unless detected via X-ray or ultrasound. Incredibly, Nutella carried their baby for almost a year before the world could witness the miracle of life.
But Cocoa’s family isn’t the only one expanding at Zoo Atlanta. Bonnie, another female sloth in the Zoo’s sloth trio, is also expecting an infant in the coming weeks. Bonnie’s pregnancy was confirmed through a recent physical exam using X-ray and ultrasound technology. This will be Bonnie’s third offspring, as her two previous babies, Willow and Raisin, now reside in other AZA-accredited zoos.
While the birth of these sloth babies is a cause for celebration, it’s essential to recognize sloths’ challenges in the wild. Habitat loss, primarily due to illegal logging, is dangerous for these animals. The fragmentation of their natural environment forces sloths to navigate through unfamiliar territories, often resulting in tragic accidents. Hundreds of sloths are electrocuted each year as they attempt to use power lines as pathways between forest patches.
To combat these threats and support sloth conservation efforts, Zoo Atlanta has partnered with the Sloth Conservation Project, one of the programs backed by their Quarters for Conservation initiative. For every general admission ticket sold, 25 cents is directed towards projects that aid wildlife. By supporting this program, Zoo Atlanta contributes to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sloths impacted by deforestation and electrocution.
The successful breeding of Nutella and Cocoa was made possible through the AZA Species Survival Plan® (SSP) recommendations. This plan aims to maintain healthy, genetically diverse, and self-sustaining animal populations in accredited zoos. Lynn Yakubinis, a Lead Keeper at Zoo Atlanta, coordinates AZA-wide SSP programs for Hoffmann’s and Linne’s two-toed sloths.
If you’re eager to glimpse Nutella and her precious baby, you’re in luck! They can be seen daily, weather permitting, in the Zoo’s summer sloth habitat in the kid zone. Witnessing the bond between a sloth mother and her child is a heartwarming experience that reminds us of the preciousness of life and the importance of conservation.
In conclusion, Cocoa’s new addition brings joy and excitement to the world of sloths and zoo enthusiasts. The baby sloth’s birth highlights these creatures’ excellent reproductive abilities, as well as the vital conservation efforts being undertaken by Zoo Atlanta. By supporting initiatives like the Sloth Conservation Project, we can all play a role in ensuring the survival and well-being of these fascinating animals for generations to come. So let’s celebrate this fantastic news and continue to work together to protect wildlife and their habitats.
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Source Description
Cocoa, a 30-year-old Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth at Zoo Atlanta, became a dad again on Father’s Day with the birth of an infant to female Nutella on June 18, 2023. The infant is the first for 6-year-old Nutella.
The gestation period for sloths is unusually long for the animal kingdom at 11 to 12 months; however, pregnancies are not quickly confirmed unless detected via X-ray or ultrasound. Although sloths are famous for their slow movements, sloth infants develop notably more rapidly than most other mammal babies. They are born fully furred, with their eyes open and teeth already present, and have fully developed claws for clinging to their mothers.
Zoo Atlanta’s Sloth Care Team and Veterinary Team have also confirmed that Bonnie, the other female in the Zoo’s sloth trio, is expecting an infant, due in the coming weeks. Bonnie’s pregnancy was confirmed via X-ray and ultrasound during a recent physical exam; the newborn would be Bonnie’s third. Her two previous offspring, Willow and Raisin, live at other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos.
In addition to challenges such as habitat loss to illegal logging, hundreds of sloths are electrocuted each year while attempting to use power lines to travel among fragmented forest patches. Based in Costa Rica, the Sloth Conservation Project is one of three programs supported by Zoo Atlanta’s 2023-2024 Quarters for Conservation initiative, which directs 25 cents of every general admission to projects for wildlife. In supporting this program, Zoo Atlanta is helping to bolster efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wild sloths impacted by deforestation and electrocution.
Nutella and Cocoa were recommended to breed by the AZA Species Survival Plan® (SSP), which seeks to maintain healthy, genetically diverse, and self-sustaining animal populations in accredited zoos. Lynn Yakubinis, a Lead Keeper at Zoo Atlanta, coordinates AZA-wide SSP programs for Hoffmann’s and Linne’s two-toed sloths.
Nutella and her infant may be seen daily, weather permitting, in the Zoo’s summer sloth habitat located in the kid zone. (Photo: Channing M. )
