Hoffmann’s Two-Toed Sloth Born at Zoo Atlanta

Adorable news sometimes travels in slow packages. Nutella, a Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, gave birth to an infant on October 30, 2026. The new arrival is the third offspring of Nutella and male Cocoa. Nutella and Cocoa were recommended to breed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP), which seeks to maintain healthy, genetically diverse, and self-sustaining animal populations in accredited zoos.

Although they are best known for their slow, deliberate movements, sloths are unusual among mammals in many other ways. They are almost exclusively arboreal – rarely traveling to the ground – and do nearly everything, including eating, upside down. Infant development is similarly unusual: The sloth gestation period is uncommonly long for an animal of this size, at 11 to 12 months. Babies are born fully furred, with their eyes open and teeth already present, and have fully developed claws for clinging to their mothers.

“We are excited to welcome Nutella’s newest infant,” said Gina Ferrie, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation. “Sloths have so many behaviors and adaptations that highlight the incredible biodiversity of our natural world. They also give us the opportunity to share a conservation story that helps our Members and guests appreciate the impact of human activities on wildlife.”

Although they are not yet classified as endangered, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths face mounting threats in the wild in their native Central and South America. In addition to challenges such as habitat loss for illegal logging, hundreds of sloths are electrocuted each year while attempting to use power lines to travel among fragmented forest patches.

Sloths are tropical animals not tolerant of cooler temperatures, so the sloths at Zoo Atlanta are not currently visible outdoors. Stay tuned to Zoo Atlanta’s social networks for updates on the infant, who is expected to be visible with Nutella when the sloths return to their outdoor habitat this spring.

Learn more about Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths or plan a visit at zooatlanta.org.

Photo by Ansley P