The world’s oldest zoo has delighted visitors by sharing the first glimpses of its adorable newborn two-toed sloth.
Officials at Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, revealed that the pair of sloths became parents to their 14th baby on 18th November.
Zoo director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “We are very happy about this offspring.
“Sloths are among the most fascinating and at the same time most comfortable animals that delight our visitors.”
The young sloth will be under the care of its mother, who will nurse it for around six months.
But the zoo said the baby’s diet is not limited to milk, as it has already started nibbling on vegetables like celery and lettuce.
Initially hidden in its mum’s soft belly fur, the offspring has now grown big enough to be easily spotted by visitors.
Once the young sloth separates from its mother, the zoo team will determine whether it is male or female.
Two-toed sloths sleep for up to 20 hours a day, conserving energy since their plant-based diet offers minimal sustenance.
In the rainforests of South and Central America, they have evolved remarkable adaptations for their slow-paced lifestyle.
Hering-Hagenbeck added: “Sloths spend their lives hanging upside down from branches.
“Thanks to the crown that runs along their stomach, rainwater can drain away easily.
“In addition, algae grow in their fur, which provides them with camouflage and also serves as a snack.”
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Story By: Georgina Jedikovska, Sub-Editor: Georgina Jedikovska, Agency: Newsflash
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