Meet Our Two-toed Sloth
Posted at 11:02 am January 12, 2009 by Louella Miller
Majica
There are basically two types of sloth. Our sloth, Majica, is a two-toed sloth; there is also a three-toed sloth. This name designation refers to how many “toes” are on their front paws. Both species have three toes on the rear feet. But when you look at a sloth you will wonder where the toes are! Each foot ends with 2- to 3-inch (50- to 76-millimeter) curving claws with no obvious “toes” to be seen. From our research, we found out that the three-toed sloth is rather docile. We saw video clips of people plucking wild ones right out of a tree and easily handling them. But the two-toed sloth is much more defensive. They do not like to be handled, and use those front claws like a Ginsu chef! They also have very big dagger-like cheek teeth. It was quite clear it was going to be a challenge to find a way to share this wonderful animal with Zoo guests in shows and at special events.
While working out a training plan, we spent the time learning about our new “family” member. At first, Majica did not like to be touched…period. But soon she was allowing us to touch and inspect most of her body for a fresh sprig of Eugenia. As we have built a relationship with her, she is becoming more comfortable with our light touches. She even began to respond to us calling her name when we entered her enclosure. She comes out of her nest box to greet us.
One of the most interesting behaviors we have witnessed is her “rain dance.” Whenever it starts to rain, she does laps around the roof of her pen! This is the only time she does this. And she maneuvers around her pen at a speed you would not expect of a sloth.
It has been exciting learning about this most unusual animal, and we have developed a training plan that will enable us to share her with others up close and personal.
Louella Miller is an animal trainer at the San Diego Zoo.
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January 13th, 2009 at 11:27 am
thanks for the post on a very unusual animal. ( in my opinion ) it is amazing to me that you can get majica to respond to your voice and your touch. I have never heard of this being done before. how interesting for you to even try this approach. ordinarily they move so slowly that you want to reach out and help them get to their destination. ha ha. do many of these animals get killed by predators in the wild due to their slowness ? who are their main enemies? their little rain dance is funny? maybe it perks them up! or, maybe this is their shower that they wait for to c leanse themselves. it’s funny that this is done only when it rains. there has to be some sort of connection and meaning? animals are truly fasinating and can also be mysterious about certain things. keep us posted about your training. I wonder if you will ever be able to pick her up. goodbye from the polar tundra in michigan. BURR! I hear that it’s been hotter than usual there in california! lucky you! wanna trade plac es?
Moderator’s note: For more basic two-toed sloth info, visit our Animal Bytes section at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-two-toed_sloth.html
January 13th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
thanks moderator, I always forget to look there first before I ask questions. sorry!
Moderator’s note: No problem, Nancy. We’re glad there’s some interest in this fascinating animal. Louella will have another blog for us about Majica next week.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:28 am
I find sloths fascinating. I think I’ve only ever seen the 3-toed sloth as this one was very very very slow! But, having said that, it gives you the time to look at them properly. A lot of people don’t seem to like them, but when you look at one closely, yes they are strange, but that is their magnetism. Good luck with Majica and I shall look forward to the next blog. (By the way, reading the part about her not letting you touch her etc, just made me think of the stray cat we’ve just adopted – if he has owners, they certainly don’t care about him – it took us ages to make friends and, taking him to the vet to have a vicious abscess treated, we had to start again! He’s coming round though.) Patience and love with animals will usually win the day.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Hi! Sloths are very interesting animals to say the least! They are fascinating to watch even when the sloths are just hanging there on the tree branch. I don’t know what their status is on the endangered list for both the 2 toed and 3 toed sloths, but I’m sure that they are threatened to some extent due to habitat loss, and they move so slow to avoid any danger around them. Hope fully Majica can give all of us some lessons on how sloths live and how to conserve their habitats. By the way, where do sloths originate from? South America, I think? Let me know, ok? Have fun!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: Sloths are native to Central and South America. Learn more about them at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-two-toed_sloth.html
January 16th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Nancy from Michigan: Yes, we are having a beautiful and warm Southern California winter this year. Many of my colleagues have worked in facilities in snow bound areas and that in itself poses many challenges. I’ll stick to the challenges of working with the amazing animals I have had the opportunity to experience. The two-toed sloth, Majica, is at the top of that list.
Our training approach, operant conditioning, is the mainstay of working with animals. It is reward based and a positive experience for all involved. Perhaps to our advantage, we had little knowledge of how others had trained sloths. Majica responded well to what the pet community refers to as clicker training. It definitely was not at the speed you would find in a border collie or maybe even a basset hound! We allow each of our animals to proceed at the rate they individually need. We simply adjusted our training to sloth time. It was slow at times but actually not as slow as you might expect.
As to your question of are many sloths killed due to their slowness, the answer would be yes and no. Their slow movement avoids drawing attention from predators whose prey drive is triggered from quick movements. They are most vulnerable when they move to ground level once every week or so to eliminate. If caught in this position by a jaguar or ocelot, it is unlikely they could move fast enough to escape, although they would probably inflict some nasty wounds with their long claws and very sharp canine-like cheek teeth. When threatened, they can move swiftly for a short period of time and just might find a tangle of vines in which to seek refuge. When up in the rain forest canopy, their main predators are the large raptors such as the harpy eagle. Again, their slow movement affords some protection from drawing attention to themselves. So the sloth’s slow movement makes them hard to detect but inhibits their escape if discovered by a predator.
Your solution to why Majica performs her ‘rain dance’ is interesting. That is one possible answer. In the summer months she does enjoy a soft mist from the hose.
Thank you for your interest in this wonderful animal. Please watch for the progress of our training.
Louella Miller
January 17th, 2009 at 7:55 am
It is fascinating how wild animals are able to learn to interact with humans. Clicker training was mentioned…I have seen this technique employed with domestic cats. If you’ve ever seen the old Friskies commercials with cats executing different behaviors and “tricks,” they were taught using clickers. Cats aren’t usually considered to be easily “trainable” (at least if you listen to “dog people”) but my own experience has been quite different. Patience, trust, thoughtfulness and a quiet confidence are the foundation for teaching any type of animal. When you add positive reinforcement, much can be accomplished. I have been amazed at how much animals are able to teach themselves, as well. Humans often don’t give animals credit for how brilliant they are in their own right.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming update on Majica’s training and how your relationship with her is developing. It is interesting to see what goes into developing a training plan that is unique to each species or even each individual animal as their temperments, claws, teeth, etc. are taken into account. Your job must be so rewarding, Louella!
January 21st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Melissa
It is so exciting for me to imagine the San Diego Zoo Web site has triggered your interest in clicker training. You are right: it is appropriate for just about any creature. If you have the opportunity to learn more about the technique and use it with any animal you are training, you will find it most effective. We use the ‘clicker’ with land mammals as sea mammal trainers use the whistle. I have even seen home aquarium fish trained with operant conditioning and a small flashlight!
You are absolutely right: I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with so many varied and incredible animals.
January 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Thank you for the article on the two-toed sloth. I honestly can’t remember ever seeing a sloth in person before and I have been to my fair share of zoos. I look forward to “meeting” Majica when the new exhibit opens. I have always loved the concept of a sloth. I hope the training goes well and you can solve some of the mysteries of the sloth. The rain dance is curious. I wonder if she is just happy to see the rain when it appears in not so rainy California. I bet she is pretty happy today.
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 pm
What an amazing animal the Sloth is. As members of the Zoo my wife and I are looking forward to meeting Majica and seeing him in person. When I look at some of these amazing creatures I can’t help but be in awe of God’s amazing creation. Thanks for the article!
January 24th, 2009 at 12:46 am
The book _HMS Surprise_ by Patrick O’Brian contains the immortal line:
“Jack, you have debauched my sloth.”
January 29th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Two toes
that would be awesome to have 2 toes
altough i probably couldnt walk!
January 30th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
thats pretty coolio but i wouldn’t like to have 2 toes. It would be akward
June 6th, 2009 at 9:04 am
she is cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 6th, 2009 at 9:05 am
she is a good lokin sloth
August 27th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Has anyone heard of domesicated sloths? For a house pet? I’ve always been interested in them and would love to hae one as a pet. I’m sure it will never happen but has anyone done this?
Moderator’s note: Please don’t even consider having a sloth as a pet. Instead, consider adopting a domesticated animal that needs a new home.