Priscita, a female two-toed sloth, arrived at Belfast Zoo last week following transfer from a German zoo.
Keepers at Belfast Zoo are hoping the newly arrived, 1½-year-old female two-toed sloth from Straubing Zoo in Germany will enjoy the company of the zoo’s resident male sloth, named Enrique.
Two-toed sloths are native to Central and South America. They spend the majority of their lives upside down, in the trees. These unusual animals eat, sleep, mate and give birth from their position high among the branches in the rainforest.
These solitary animals have a low metabolic rate which allows them to survive on little or poor quality food. Due to this, a sloth only comes to the ground once a week to go to the toilet.
Sloths are the only mammal with hair that grows in the opposite direction to all other animals. This allows rain water to run off their body while they hang upside down in the trees.
Zoo Curator, Linda Frew, explains why it could be some time before a baby sloth arrives, “We are delighted to have a new female sloth at Belfast Zoo as they are one of our most popular species with visitors. Female two-toed sloths reach “full maturity” and can breed from when they’re three years old. They are pregnant for about six months. When born, baby sloths spend their first few weeks clinging closely to their mother. Priscita is only one and a half years old so they have plenty of time to get to know each other before we can hope for any babies!”
Traditionally, the zoo’s sloths were homed in the Rainforest House however visitors can currently view Enrique and his new girlfriend in the gorilla house.
Belfast Zoo is open every day, 10am – 6pm with last admission at 4.30pm. Admission can be booked online at www.belfastzoo.co.uk
Related Members
-
NewsMalagasy conservationist meets namesake lemur after travelling to the UK to celebrate 20 years of fighting deforestation 14th July, 2025This is the moment a Malagasy conservationist met the little lemur who shares her name. A team of conservationists from Madagasikara Voakajy (MV)…
-
NewsBlog: Hafod yr Adar – the birds' summer dwelling: creating nesting opportunities for native birds at Folly Farm 14th July, 2025Jack Gradidge, Conservation Officer at Folly Farm, writes about the Park’s initiative to conserve native bird species… At the start…
-
NewsRaja The Sumatran Tiger Arrives At Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens 10th July, 2025Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is thrilled to announce the arrival of Raja, a magnificent two-year-old male Sumatran Tiger who has travelled from Frankfurt…