Breeding male sloth “Casa” Nova joins the zoo family – could this mean a Sloth Nursery is on the horizon?

We’re so excited to announce that we’ve recently welcomed another sloth to our zoo family, in the form of adorable two-year old male sloth ‘Nova’, bringing our sloth numbers up to four!

Linne’s two toed sloth Nova, arrived with us from Hamerton Park Zoo in Cambridgeshire last week, as part of the European Breeding Programme for the species. He was born to parents ‘Vee’ and ‘Snuffles’ in November 2021. As a young breeding male, he’s joined our young female ‘Button’, who only arrived at the zoo with us last Summer, to make a breeding pair. So, the pitter patter of tiny, two-toed claws could be in reach in the coming years – eek!

Cheeky new arrival ‘Nova’ joined us from Hamerton Park Zoo where this image was taken

Nova and Button have been already been getting acquainted in the Sloth Forest exhibit within Tropical Trails, where they reside alongside a variety of rare and beautiful free-flying birds. But in typical sloth fashion, their union is very much taken at a slow and steady pace. Sloths reach sexual maturity between three and five years old, and with Nova at two years old and Button just about to turn two – keepers may have to be patient for a while yet. But to potentially welcome the next generation of sloths as a breeding centre for the species in the future is a very exciting prospect indeed!

“We’re so excited to have welcomed a breeding pair of sloths at the zoo within such a short space of time as part of a managed breeding programme. Nova has settled into his new home really well and seems pretty chilled, enjoying some sweet potato treats and regular naps. He’s already met our breeding female Button and we’re keeping everything crossed that he’ll be her “Casa” Nova – and we’ll be welcoming some sloth cubs in the future!” – Folly Zookeeper Kim

Nova enjoys a sloth fave – sweet potato!

The team at Hamerton are also excited to see what the future has in store for these potential lovebirds…

“Nova has very much inherited the best of both his parents with mum Vee’s good looks and dad Snuffle’s easy-going nature. He’s been a firm favourite with visitors and keepers whilst he’s lived here at the park, especially as he often enjoyed napping on his feed dish at the front of the enclosure right on view! This lovely character will be missed by his keepers but we are delighted to hear he’s settling into his new home well and we wish him and Button all the best in their future pairing.” – Sloth Keeper at Hamerton, Cathy Evans

“Casa” Nova has certainly settled in at Sloth Forest

Don’t worry – our elderly sloth residents Tuppee and Lightcap are still with us, enjoying their twilight years in their more peaceful enclosure in Tropical Trails, away from the youngsters. Tuppee is around 30 years old and Lightcap is one of the oldest sloths in European zoos at around 41 years old! So not only are we still providing care for the older residents at our sloth “retirement home”, we’re hoping this new breeding pair will bring a new lease of life into Tropical Trails with the addition of a “sloth nursery” for the species too. What a dream!