Baby sloth born in Scotland for the first time

Scotland’s first baby sloth has been born at Edinburgh Zoo.

The male Linne’s two-toed sloth arrived on Monday to first-time parents Feira and Nico, both aged six, marking a major milestone for the zoo.

Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) keepers named the baby Atty in honour of the veteran broadcaster and environmentalist Sir David Attenborough, who turned 100 at the weekend.

In 2017, Attenborough said if he had to be an animal for a day he would “undoubtedly be a sloth”. “You know, hanging about upside down, you’ve nothing to do, in fact sleeping most of the time,” he said.

For the first six months of his life, Atty will grip tightly to mum Feira’s stomach.

Baby sloths learn which leaves are safe to eat by sampling food directly from her mouth from about the age of two months.

Head keeper Jess Brown said the birth of Atty was “groundbreaking, not just for Edinburgh Zoo, but for Scotland”.

“Seeing a sloth baby clinging to mum for the very first time has been so special for the whole team and we can’t wait for visitors to see little Atty,” she said.

“He is already showing plenty of personality and visitors might spot a tiny face peeking out from mum’s fur.

“Nico and Feira are both beautiful animals and a fan-favourite with our visitors so we’re confident he’ll be a big hit.”

Mum and baby are currently resting in their enclosure at the zoo.

Visitors will be able to go into the sloth house from 14:00 on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the zoo said opening times of the sloth house would vary over the coming weeks.

Visitors are recommended to check opening hours on arrival at the zoo.