London Zoo has welcomed its first ever baby sloth, after a surprise pregnancy. Keepers had no idea animals had even acknowledged each other. Sex of the newborn is not yet known
However the pregnancy came as quite a shock to zookeepers in the Rainforest Life Exhibit, as they had no idea the male and female had mated.
Leander, the father, arrived from Germany at the end of 2012 to be paired with Marilyn, the mother, but despite all efforts by zookeepers, the pair did not seem to be interested in each other.
However, it would appear that after hours, when away from the watchful eye of zoo staff, the pair had, quite obviously, hit it off.
Two-toed sloths have been known to take almost a decade to form a pair, bond and mate, but factoring in Marilyn's estimated 11-month gestation period, it took the Zoo's frisky pair just six months.
Keepers won't know if the baby is a boy or a girl until it is scanned by vets.
Until then, the new arrival is spending its days clinging tightly on to mum, who is taking motherhood in her stride and proudly showing off her bundle of joy to visitors in in the Amazonian rainforest exhibit.
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However the pregnancy came as quite a shock to zookeepers in the Rainforest Life Exhibit, as they had no idea the male and female had mated.
Leander, the father, arrived from Germany at the end of 2012 to be paired with Marilyn, the mother, but despite all efforts by zookeepers, the pair did not seem to be interested in each other.
However, it would appear that after hours, when away from the watchful eye of zoo staff, the pair had, quite obviously, hit it off.
Two-toed sloths have been known to take almost a decade to form a pair, bond and mate, but factoring in Marilyn's estimated 11-month gestation period, it took the Zoo's frisky pair just six months.
Keepers won't know if the baby is a boy or a girl until it is scanned by vets.
Until then, the new arrival is spending its days clinging tightly on to mum, who is taking motherhood in her stride and proudly showing off her bundle of joy to visitors in in the Amazonian rainforest exhibit.
Source
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