San Diego Zoo Announces Birth Of Baby Sloth

The pup was born on August 16, 2026 to a sloth named Xena, according to the San Diego Zoo | Photo by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Visitors may catch a glimpse of the baby and its mother at the San Diego Zoo.

The San Diego Zoo announced the birth of a Linnaeus's two-toed sloth pup Tuesday in celebration of International Sloth Day.

The pup was born Aug. 16 to a sloth named Xena, according to the zoo.

Visitors may catch a glimpse of the mother and her pup at the zoo's Wildlife Explorers Basecamp Rady Presentation Area and other locations throughout the park.

Sloth pups cling to their mothers' fur and remain close to them for about six months. Mothers often slow down and adjust their positions while moving through trees to keep their pups comfortable, zoo officials said.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works to protect sloth habitats in tropical and cloud forests through its Amazonia Conservation Hub.

By Kristina Houck, Patch staff | October 20, 2026 | Patch - Carlsbad, CA

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