Fota announces arrival of second ever sloth to be born at the wildlife park

Fota has announced the arrival of a new baby Linné’s two-toed sloth – the second ever sloth to be born at the wildlife park.

The young sloth was born on April 12 to mum Talyta and dad Matheo.

Its arrival follows the successful birth of Rowan, the first-ever sloth born at Fota Wildlife Park on April 30, 2022.

Rowan has since been transferred to Banham Zoo in the UK as part of a breeding programme.

The sloths at Fota are free-ranging within the Tropical House.

** News!! ** Announcing a new baby sloth! Born on 12 April to Mum Talyta and Dad Matheo, who live, free-ranging in the Tropical House. Sloths can spend up to 15 - 20 hrs a day asleep! Help us choose a name via form on https://t.co/qMjuWU8mXa. (Images thks Michael English, Fota) pic.twitter.com/Mr9dtIvNPZ

— Fota Wildlife Park (@fotawildlife) July 18, 2024

“We’re delighted about the birth, this is only the second sloth to be born at Fota,” lead ranger, Julien Fonteneau, said.

“Sloths are a relatively new addition to the park and we’ve spent a lot of time and resources ensuring the Tropical House habitat is as naturalistic as possible for them.

“The Tropical House features lots of sturdy branches and foliage and yet offers a route back inside a secure house or nesting box should they seek out a quieter area.

“Sloths are nocturnal however, so while it is possible to catch a glimpse of mum and the new baby, they spend up to 15 to 20 hours a day asleep and lead their lives from an upside-down position high among the branches.” 

Matheo, the first sloth to arrive at Fota, was born on the September 24, 2017 and was transferred from Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart, Germany in 2019.

Talyta was born on February 27, 2017 and came to Fota Wildlife Park from the Papiliorama Swiss Tropical Gardens in November 2020.

The pair successfully mated to give birth to a female, Rowan in April 2022.

Fota Wildlife Park is now calling on the public to help name the baby sloth whose gender is not yet known, to be in with a chance to win a conservation annual pass.

See Fota’s website to enter.