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Baby sloth born at Honolulu Zoo

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COURTESY HONOLULU ZOO

The Linneaus’s two-toed sloth, also known as a southern two-toed sloth, was born on Monday afternoon.

A baby sloth born Monday afternoon at Honolulu Zoo is now on public display with its mother.

The Linneaus’s two-toed sloth, also known as a southern two-toed sloth, was born on Monday afternoon, but is too young for staff to determine its sex, so it will be named later.

This is the third baby sloth born at the zoo to mother, Harriet, and father, Quando. The two other siblings — Opihi and Akala — are both females and on display with their father. Opihi was born on April 24, 2015, and Akala was born on July 17, 2016.

The Honolulu Zoo participates in several of the Association of Zoos & Aquarium’s Species Survival Programs, which includes the two-toed sloth. Harriet and Quando are considered a genetically valuable pair.

Sloths give birth to one offspring at a time, but do not readily breed in zoos. Two-toed sloths are nocturnal and sleep 16 to 18 hours per day, with a diet consisting of leaves and fruit. Offspring will stay with their mom for 9 to 12 months.

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