Florida Zookeepers Step In to Raise a Rejected Baby Sloth

At the Brevard Zoo in Florida, a tiny miracle was born on October 17 — the first-ever Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth in the zoo’s history. Weighing just 11.2 ounces, the baby should have spent its first months clinging to its mother, Tango. But when keepers tried to introduce the newborn, Tango showed no interest. She didn’t nurse, and she repeatedly pushed the little one away.

Zookeepers believe Tango’s inexperience as a first-time mother led her to reject her baby. But instead of letting the fragile infant face the odds alone, the staff stepped in — becoming round-the-clock caregivers.

Every 2.5 hours, the sloth is bottle-fed goat’s milk by devoted keepers like Lauren Hinson, who also provide warmth, comfort, and materials for the baby to cling to. In a sweet twist, the newborn chose a fuzzy sloth-print blanket from the zoo’s gift shop as its “surrogate mom.”

The baby’s father, Dustin, isn’t involved in rearing, leaving the zookeepers as the sole source of love and security. The little one’s sex remains a mystery, as determining it often requires lab tests.

Native to South America’s lush rainforests, Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths are already under threat from deforestation. That makes this baby’s survival even more meaningful — a symbol of resilience and of humans stepping in when nature falters.

For now, the baby sloth spends its days clinging to its blanket, sipping milk, and resting in the gentle hands of its caretakers. A rocky start in life has been softened by compassion, ensuring this tiny creature will grow up safe, strong, and loved.