New Arrival: Solana, Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth

Please help Lincoln Park Zoo welcome a sweet and slow-moving new resident! A Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth named Solana is currently adjusting to her new home at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House. She is an adolescent female who is almost 2 years old.

Solana is from another accredited zoo and arrived here as a result of a recommendation by the Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth Species Survival Plan®. SSPs collaboratively manage animals at institutions within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Animal care specialists report that Solana is a curious individual who loves watermelon and eggplant.

Two-toed sloths, which can get to 27 inches long and 20 pounds in weight, are related to anteaters and armadillos. They are tree dwellers from Central and South America, considered to be one of the world’s slowest mammals. They sleep up to 20 hours a day and maintain a low body temperature to conserve energy. They may sometimes appear greenish due to algae growing on their back, which helps them camouflage in trees.

Sloths may have multiple mates. After an 11-month gestation period, they give birth while hanging in trees. Newborn sloths cling to their mother for the first five weeks of life and become mature as early as 1 or 2 years of age.

This species is not considered at risk of extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. However, two-toed sloths face threats in the wild, including trafficking. They have become one of the most popular animals for sale in Colombia’s illegal pet trade.

Because they are often very still even when awake, sloths can be hard to see! If you’re in the Ecosystem section of the zoo’s Small Mammal-Reptile House, look for resting spots such as hanging hammocks to get a glimpse of this new zoo resident.

To support the care of Solana and Oro, visit the zoo’s Wish List and pitch in with lettuce (which Solana is clearly enjoying in the video below), along with treats like fruits and veggies.