Video courtesy of Amazon World.
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MOTHERING Sunday was a particularly special day at Amazon World, thanks to the birth of a two-toed sloth, newest addition to an endangered species.
The currently unnamed baby, whose sex is not yet known, was born to parents Solarna and Amber during the day — an unusual occurence as sloths normally give birth at night.
Staff at the Newchurch zoo park were alerted to the birth by a visitor and a crowd quickly gathered to watch the baby’s arrival.
Manager Kath Bright said: “We have two breeding pairs of sloths here at Amazon World, and each pair has a baby already. Solarna and Amber, who have been together for three years, have an 18-month -old son, Apollo, and he has been moved into a separate enclosure now the new baby has arrived.
“Sloths are very difficult to breed in captivity and this new baby is an important part of the European conservation programme for this species. Sloths have become an endangered species because of the deforestation of their habitat in South and Central America.
“It was wonderful that visitors were able to watch the birth and the lady who alerted us was here on a Mother’s Day outing, so it was especially lovely for her.”