Baby Scout is RWP Zoo’s Newest Little Wonder

Photo by Alicia Maria Ortiz Alba

At Roger Williams Park Zoo, a new baby sloth has captured the hearts of zookeepers and the public alike. Zookeepers have an adorable tradition once a new baby is born: whoever finds the baby gets the opportunity to name it. That is how Scout, born sometime in mid-to-late October, got their name!  

Photo by Alicia Maria Ortiz Alba

While Scout’s gender is still a mystery to be revealed, some zookeepers have a strong speculation that they are a girl. Determining the sex of a baby sloth can be tricky, as there are almost no visible differences between males and females in their early days. Either way, Scout is the perfect name for this little creature! 

Sloths are a fascinating species, or how one of the zookeepers likes to say, “They’re weirdos. In the best possible way!” Once they are born, sloths cling to their mothers, often laying on their chest for up to a year. They have unique bathroom habits, only relieving themselves on average once a week and losing a third of their body weight. Sloths are commonly known for their sluggish movements;  as herbivores, they have an incredibly slow metabolism which forces them to move at a gentle pace in order to conserve energy. Surprisingly, they may be slow on the ground, but they are great swimmers. This fascinating combination of traits makes sloths not just slow-moving creatures but remarkable animals who adapt to their environment rather than transforming their behavior.  

Enjoy a visit to the Roger Williams Park Zoo to meet baby Scout and learn more interesting facts about sloths! For more information on the zoo and its hours, visit rwpzoo.org.