Today, the Saint Louis Zoo unveils its Sloth Atrium, a newly renovated habitat now home to two sloths: Pancakes and Rolo.
The new habitat is located in the Historic Primate House’s atrium, which has not housed animals for the past 20 years. Helen Boostrom, curator of primates at the Saint Louis Zoo, was part of the team that renovated the space.
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“We really wanted to reimagine the space to what would be a perfect environment for a sloth and what would really help guests connect with sloths,” Boostrom says.
The renovated habitat truly brings a rainforest environment to life for its resident two-toed sloths.
“We wanted to keep it open-air, so it’s not meshed in,” says Boostrom. “There are these great waterfalls and stream features that are soothing noise as well. But also, sloths actually go down into water. They are known for swimming.”
After renovations were completed, the Sloth Atrium brought two sloths into the habitat. The new residents entered the space about one week ago. Pancakes, a six-year-old female sloth, has been at the Saint Louis Zoo for about four years.
“Another thing that would give [Pancakes] a great life and connect guests is to have a mate, and have a family in the future,” Boostrom says. To that end, the Saint Louis Zoo recently welcomed Rolo, a one-and-a-half-year-old male sloth from Zoo Atlanta.
Currently, the habitat is divided into two sections for Pancakes and Rolo, but the two will eventually be connected, according to Mylisa Whipple, zoological manager of primates.
“Four vines will go across, and we’ll be able to open up our [glass] barrier, too,” Whipple says. “It’ll be an opportunity for them to get introduced to one another.”
The sloths are part of a larger species survival plan overseen by the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums, of which the Saint Louis Zoo is part. The survival plan includes a breeding recommendation for Pancakes and Rolo. “It continues our legacy of helping with conservation of species,” Whipple says.
Breeding is a longer-term goal, and ultimately, is up to Pancakes and Rolo. For now, the care team is focused on acclimating the sloths to their new environment. While Pancakes enjoys basking in the water misters, Rolo is a young, active explorer.
“He is younger, so he constantly likes moving around, exploring. He’s very brave in the new space,” Boostrom says. “[Pancakes] has also been exploring, but she does shorter explorations, and is a little bit more careful.”
Visitors can see Pancakes and Rolo in the Sloth Atrium during the Saint Louis Zoo’s standard operating hours starting today.
“I’m just really looking forward to people’s reactions when they see [the sloths],” Boostrom says. “Hopefully that leads to conservation actions and protecting our environment.”
