A 23-year-old sloth who recently fathered his first baby has sadly passed away.
Rio, who arrived at Jersey Zoo with a pre-existing medical condition alongside his soon-to-be sloth girlfriend Terry in 2021, had to be put to sleep yesterday.
He had been experiencing a decline in his health and dental condition over the past few weeks, according to Durrell.
Pictured: Rio (left) and Terry (right).
Just over a week before Rio’s death, girlfriend Terry gave birth to the pair’s first baby.
The baby sloth, a Linne’s two-toed sloth who is yet to be named, was born on 15 January and is currently “doing well”, according to zoo staff.
The birth marks a success for the European Breeding Programme, which brought Rio and Terry to Jersey with the aim of pairing them for breeding.
Pictured: Terry and her baby. (Durrell)
The sloth house will remain closed to visitors for several weeks to allow Terry and her newborn to settle into their new routine.
“The early days are very sensitive,” zoo officials explained.
