A baby two-toed sloth - born at London Zoo on New Year’s Day - is doing well say keepers.
Nick-named Nova - meaning new in Latin - they won't know the new arrival's sex until it is confirmed by vets with hair DNA.
Zookeepers kept a close eye on pregnant sloth Marilyn over Christmas, and were thrilled to finally spot two brown eyes peeping out through her fur.
Sloth keeper at the Regent's Park attraction Veronica Heldt said: “Having arranged regular ultrasounds with the vet team we knew Marilyn was coming to the end of her pregnancy, so we checked every day for any sign of the new arrival; we were delighted to finally spot a tiny baby clinging onto Marilyn’s tummy. We’ve nick-named the little one Nova as we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year.”
Two-toed sloths are nocturnal mammals native to South America with a gestation period of 10-11 months. Newborns arrive well developed, able to eat solid food and hold tight to their mothers.
Veronica added: “Sloth babies are very strong and immediately find a comfy spot, hugging mum, which they won’t leave entirely until around 12-months-old. This enables them to build up the valuable muscles needed to spend life slowly swinging from tree to tree.”
Visitors to London Zoo may be able to spot mother, baby, and dad Leander in the Rainforest Life exhibit. Once Nova's sex is confirmed, details will be added to the European Studbook, part of a coordinated breeding programme for two-toed sloths.
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