There is a new little passenger tucked into the fur of Whoopi, a Linnaeus's two-toed sloth at ZooParc de Beauval in France. She gave birth on 22 September 2026, and her baby has spent its first weeks doing exactly what a newborn sloth should: holding tight, feeding and quietly watching the world from the safest possible place.
The arrival is undeniably adorable, but it also offers a lovely look at how a sloth's early life begins. There was no dramatic announcement from Whoopi. A keeper simply noticed a small, slightly damp bundle clinging to her during the evening feed. Since then, the zoo has chosen patient observation rather than unnecessary handling.
A quiet arrival during the evening feed
According to ZooParc de Beauval's birth update, keeper Valentin found the baby at about 5.15 pm. Whoopi had been behaving normally and eating well earlier that day, so there had been little warning that the birth was imminent.
The newborn was still damp when discovered, suggesting that it had arrived that afternoon. Its sex is not yet known. Keepers estimate that it is roughly 20 centimetres long, but they have deliberately avoided weighing or measuring it for now. The priority is to let mother and baby remain settled.
That restraint matters. The team is watching from a distance for useful signs such as feeding, activity and body condition. The baby was seen seeking Whoopi's teats soon after birth, and feeding was confirmed the following day. A rounded tummy and alert movements have also been encouraging observations, without requiring the pair to be separated.
Why baby sloths cling so tightly
A newborn sloth enters the world ready to grip. For the first part of its life, its mother's body is transport, shelter, warmth and a moving classroom. Whoopi's baby travels against her belly while she eats, rests and moves through the enclosure.
Beauval says the youngster is already lifting its head to watch what happens at feeding time. As the weeks pass, young sloths begin touching nearby branches and showing interest in the foods their mothers eat. These small acts are early practice for a life in the canopy.
The transition is gradual. Beauval expects the baby to stay closely attached for months and become increasingly independent at around eight to nine months. That does not mean it suddenly switches from passenger to expert climber. It learns through repeated, low-risk contact with branches, food and its surroundings while its mother remains close.
Whoopi already knows the routine
This is the second baby born to Whoopi and Manni. Their first, Flash, is now independent and awaiting a move to another zoo. Whoopi has remained calm with her latest baby and continues to move around her enclosure normally.
Her appetite has increased during lactation, so keepers monitor her diet and adjust her food to match her needs. She has received three feeds a day rather than two since August. It is a simple reminder that supporting a newborn also means supporting the mother doing the feeding, carrying and teaching.
Manni is following his usual routine. Two-toed sloths are generally solitary, and the male does not take part in raising the youngster. The Smithsonian's two-toed sloth profile describes these sloths as canopy-dwelling mammals with long limbs and large curved claws, features perfectly suited to an upside-down life among branches.
Small baby, long beginning
Linnaeus's two-toed sloths have a lengthy pregnancy and usually produce one young at a time. Beauval's species guide gives a gestation of about ten months and a litter size of one. The zoo had confirmed Whoopi's pregnancy by ultrasound in August after keepers noticed her increasingly rounded belly.
Those months of development produce a baby capable of clinging from its first day, but still completely dependent on its mother. Strength, coordination, diet and confidence all develop over time. For now, the best progress may look wonderfully uneventful: feed, cling, sleep, observe and repeat.
How to be a thoughtful sloth watcher
Visitors may be able to spot the pair in Beauval's Tropical Bird House, especially near the late-afternoon feed, but the zoo warns that patience is essential. Whoopi might rest in a wooden shelter or settle high among the vegetation, and her baby's fur blends closely with her own.
A respectful sighting should never depend on noise or attempts to attract an animal's attention. Letting a new mother choose where to rest is more important than getting a perfect photograph. Sloths have their own timetable, and watching on their terms is part of the pleasure.
For anyone following from home, the story is a gentle lesson in sloth development. A newborn's world begins in its mother's fur, then slowly expands to the nearest branch, the next taste of food and eventually a route of its own through the canopy.
Image credit: ZooParc de Beauval, from its official birth announcement.