Baby sloth born at Zoo Atlanta; cuteness ensues

An infant Hoffman's two-toed sloth was born Sunday at Zoo Atlanta to mother Bonnie. Caretakers have not yet determined the offspring's gender. CONTRIBUTED: PATTI FRAZIER

An infant Hoffman's two-toed sloth was born Sunday at Zoo Atlanta to mother Bonnie. Caretakers have not yet determined the offspring's gender. CONTRIBUTED: PATTI FRAZIER

Zoo Atlanta announced Wednesday the birth of a baby Hoffman’s two-toed sloth.

The unnamed infant is the second offspring of mother Bonnie, 18, and father Cocoa, 25.

Zoo Atlanta said the infant “is doing well and is bonding with its mother in the sloths’ behind-the-scenes indoor area.”

Bonnie, Cocoa and the infant share their habitat with another adult female, 24-year-old Okra Mae.

Like older sister Raisin, the new addition in Atlanta arrived with a full set of teeth, a furry exterior and a set of claws that will help it hang onto its mother.

Raisin, born in 2015, now lives at another zoo.

Cocoa the Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth at Zoo Atlanta, welcomed his second offspring this week, a baby born to Cocoa and mother Bonnie. 

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Sloth arrivals are often a surprise at most zoos. Zoo Atlanta had a chance to prepare for the new addition, after successfully administering an ultrasound to mother Bonnie.

The baby was born Nov. 4. Caretakers have not yet determined the baby’s gender. After that occurs, they will begin shopping for a name for the little one.

Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths are native to Central and South America. They are not classified as endangered, but their populations are threatened by habitat destruction and the pet trade.

The little one will go on exhibit later. But there’s no hurry.

The new baby sloth at Zoo Atlanta will spend most of its time with mother Bonnie. CONTRIBUTED: PATTI FRAZIER

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