Adopt a Hoffman’s sloth

Adopting a sloth at Newquay Zoo is an inspiring gift idea that will also help us to deliver our wildlife conservation programmes.

By adopting a sloth, your money will make a real contribution to our vital conservation work.

HABITAT

Found in mature and secondary rainforests, and deciduous forests.

WILD DIET

Most of the species diet consists of leaves, but they do also eat fruit and flowers.

BEHAVIOUR

There are two main types of sloth - the two toed sloth and the three toed sloth. The Hoffman's sloth is of the two toed variety. Each of the feet has long curved claws that are used for gripping onto branches when hanging upside down in the treetops. The claws also act as formidable weapons against predators. The sloth's fingers and toes have grown together into one fold of skin and have consequently lost their function. Due to their upside down lifestyle the sloth's back muscles are weak in comparison to other mammals, however they do have very strong shoulder, neck, hip, arm & leg muscles.

BREEDING

Gestation lasts between 355 and 377 days, and results in the birth of a single young. Newborn sloth are able to cling to the mother's underside with their long claws. They begin to take solid food at 15 to 27 days, and are fully weaned by 9 weeks.