Aug. 06--A two-toed sloth couple at Lincoln Park Zoo have a new baby, but it will be a while before zookeepers are able to figure out the infant's sex--and figure out how to decide its name.
Hersey, the infant's 21-year-old mother, delivered on July 25, according to a release from the zoo. It's the first baby for Hersey and her mate, 32-year-old Carlos, Hoffman's two-toed sloths who are part of an international species survival plan that helps manage the breeding of the animals, which are native to Central and South America.
Hersey is holding the infant close and "being very attentive," as it nurses regularly and clings well to her, according to Curator Diane Mulkerin, of the Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, where the sloths live.
Because of the animals' closeness, however, it likely will be several months before zookeepers can determine the infant's sex--and measure its size and weight, said zoo spokeswoman Jillian Braun. Only after that will the zoo decide what to do about its name.
Because the sloths are nocturnal and spend much of the day nestled in the trees in their enclosure, the zoo recommends anyone hoping to see them when they're more active visit later in the day. The Regenstein house is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Adult Hoffman sloths top out around 27 inches and weigh about 12 pounds, according to the zoo.
