Zoo reveals gender and name of its baby sloth

Video provided by the Elmwood Park Zoo.

A two-toed baby sloth born at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pennsylvania, finally has a name as its gender is revealed. Born in August 2025, the newborn was previously introduced to the world with the nickname ‘Beanie’s Baby.’

The zoo has now revealed mother Beanie’s baby to be female. Along with her gender, the baby sloth’s name was also disclosed: Sprout.

“While Sprout has not yet detached from her mother, Beanie, long enough for a full veterinary examination, our team coordinated a DNA test that yielded this result,” officials with the zoo said in an email to dvm360.

According to the Elmwood Park Zoo, female two-toed sloths reach maturity at the approximate age of 3 years, while males mature between the ages of 4 years and 5 years. Sloth offspring will gestate for 6 months, then cling to its mother for up to 5 months after its born. Afterwards, it will live on its own.¹

The genders of baby sloths these babies are not typically confirmed right away. Veterinarians wait for some separation to perform a thorough exam.² “Unlike many other mammals, sloths tend to be androgynous from the outside, making it almost impossible to determine sex by a glance,” according to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, in a Facebook post.³ The Cincinnati Zoo celebrated its own baby sloth birth in 2023, and noted that gender identification in sloths often require DNA testing.⁴

In the meantime, at Elmwood Park Zoo, the medical care team checked Sprout’s heart, lungs, eyes and weight by attaching the baby sloth to a surrogate mother—a stuffed animal—to keep her calm.² “Sprout and Beanie are both doing great and continue to bond closely, as is typical during these early stages,” the zoo officials shared.

Guests of the Elmwood Park Zoo can view the mother-daughter pair together in the Harmony Hideaway structure. The zoo s open 7 days a week, 10 AM to 5 PM.

References

1. Elmwood Park Zoo. Two-toed sloth: Reproduction and lifespan. Elmwood Park Zoo. Accessed April 7, 2026. https://elmwoodparkzoo.org/animal/two-toed-sloth/
2. Digital staff. Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown introduces baby sloth named ‘Beanie’s Baby.’ 6ABC Action News. September 30, 2025. Accessed April 7,2026. https://6abc.com/post/elmwood-park-zoo-introduces-baby-sloth-named-beanies/17910844/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Unlike many other mammals… Facebook. May 4, 2024. Accessed April 7, 2026. https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/posts/unlike-many-other-mammals-sloths-tend-to-be-androgynous-from-the-outside-making-/836219431861821/
4. It’s a slow news day at the Cincinnati Zoo. News release. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. June 9, 2023. Accessed April 7, 2026. https://cincinnatizoo.org/its-a-slow-news-day-at-the-cincinnati-zoo/