Baby Sloth Born At Elmwood Park Zoo

NORRISTOWN, PA — The newest and tiniest member of the Elmwood Park Zoo family is now here.

The zoo's resident two-toed sloth, Beanie, has given birth to a baby.

The zoo announced the birth on Thursday, heralding a successful pregnancy "much to the joy of our veterinary and animal staff members on-hand to witness this mini miracle."

Beanie became pregnant at her last home, the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, as part of a species survival plan effort for two-toed sloths. She then transferred to Elmwood halfway through her pregnancy, generally believed to be a safe time for move.

Beanie and her new baby are currently in the Harmony Hideaway exhibit. The walkthrough section will be partially closed for the first days of the baby's life.

"You may be able to spy them from outside the exhibit from the vantage point of the LEGO sloth located on our main path," the zoo said. "Once we’re confident that Beanie and baby are doing well, we’ll re-open the exhibit."

Two-toed sloths are extant in parts of northern South America, including Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname. Their populations are generally considered stable at the present moment, but they face significant future threats due to hunting and land development.