The Erie Zoo announced one of the newest members of their family, Coconut the Linne’s two-toed sloth, has passed away.
The zoo said Coconut passed away Sunday evening, saying that while the six-year-old sloth’s time with them was short, he still charmed the hearts of visitors, volunteers and staff members alike. Coconut arrived at the Erie Zoo from the St. Louis Aquarium in May of this year.
Erie Zoo welcoming new Linne’s two-toed sloth, Coconut
The Zoo said Coconut was found on the floor on October 18, adding that isn’t usual behavior for sloths, along with showing signs of no appetite, low body temperature and minimal responsiveness.
Zoo medical staff later found bacterial pneumonia, causing low tissue oxygenation, and started to show small signs of improvement while receiving intensive care before passing away Sunday night.
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“Saying goodbye to a beloved member of our zoo family is never easy, and Coconut will be deeply missed. His presence reminded us daily of the quiet beauty and wonder of the natural world, and he will always hold a special place in our hearts. We are evaluating the possibility for future sloth additions to the zoo family, but there are no specific plans to acquire a new sloth at this time,” the Erie Zoo said in a social media post…