Baby sloth Gus will have new South American Adventure exhibit to call home at Al. Gulf Coast Zoo

Baby sloth Gus will have new South American Adventure exhibit to call home at Al. Gulf Coast Zoo
The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo used the birth of a new family member to raise funds and introduce the community to its new South American Adventure exhibit.
Chewie took an early lead over Eco, Gus, Flash1 and Shaka in the fundraiser to name the baby sloth, which Mom Sylvia gave birth to on Mother’s Day. Herbert is the proud dad.
Gus was eventually declared the winner at the new exhibit’s grand opening on July 31. The funds raised will be used for landscaping at the new exhibit, which also includes tortoises and macaws.
“We designed the new area for our sloth encounters and to allow our guests to see some other types of animals you might find in South American forests. As the exhibit space develops, it will get planted up,” said Zoo Executive Director Joel Hamilton. “All the money that came from the naming contest where we got the name Gus will be used to plant the space up to make it look more like a jungle,’’
Baby sloths will start to hang upside down at around 20-25 days. Once a sloth has branched away from its mother, the independent youngster will inherit mom’s vacant home range. Not only do the offspring inherit their mother’s home range, they also inherit mom’s tastes for certain leaves and other food options. Right now, keepers are offering the baby a wide variety of food and leaf options, as well as providing both Sylvia and Gus different types of perching to strengthen the baby’s climbing abilities.
Located at 20499 Oak Road East in Gulf Shores, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is open
daily 9 a.m. ‘til 4 p.m. Giraffe feedings are from 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. Sloth and Kangaroo encounters are offered daily weather permitting. Admission is $19.95 fo adults, and $14.95 for children. Kids under 2 are admitted free. More info: call 251-256-7008 or visit alabamagulfcoastzoo.com.