More News From WRVO
(2010-10-07)
6-week-old baby Ruth got her name from a character named Sloth in the movie, "The Goonies," who loved Baby Ruth bars.
Photo courtesy of Amelia Beamish
Six-week-old Baby Ruth is the offspring of mother Bad Eye and father Beauregard.
Sloths are nocturnal and spend most of their time sleeping. Even when they are awake, they are the world's slowest moving mammal.
They are not on the endangered species list but because their habitat is disappearing, zoos around the world have been working to ensure their survival.
Prior to the 16-year gap, the Syracuse breeding program was so successful producing 42 new sloths that officials became concerned about the gene pool.
It wasn't easy to find an unrelated male, and the first one brought in was, unfortunately, not popular with the females.
Beauregard, Ruth's father, is now on his way to Atlanta and the Gifford zoo just got another male named Quinto. Quinto is still in quarantine so it remains to be seen if he'll be welcomed by the ladies.
Meanwhile, you will be able to welcome Ruth when she goes on public exhibit around the end of the month.
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