Page 6 - Gateways_2020_SPRING

News Bites

The latest noteworthy news from around Brookfield Zoo and beyond the gates is right at your fingertips.

Meet an Animal Fun facts: Sloths spend most of their lives hanging upside down in
PROGRAMS Ambassador trees, using their long, sharp claws. Their bodies take on a green tinge
from the algae that grow in their fur and camouflage them in trees.
Each issue, we introduce you to one of Brookfield The algae also provide nutrients when sloths groom their fur. The
Zoo’s Animal Ambassadors! Keep your eyes peeled, bodies of sloths attract insects, a species of sloth moths that take up
you just might run into these fascinating creatures on your next trip residence in their fur. However, moths and moss don’t bother Elsie—
to the zoo. Here, meet Elsie, a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth. she receives regular baths and nail trims from her animal-care team.
Typical day: Elsie loves to rest and lounge around her home at
Hamill Family Wild Encounters. When she isn’t sleeping, she can be For snacking and enrichment, Elsie loves corn on the cob, grapes,
found relaxing in her luxurious cat bed, snuggling with fluffy towels, hibiscus flowers, and the occasional treat of elbow macaroni. Like all
and generally being a diva. Her animal care specialists hide food sloths, she doesn’t have great eyesight. But she does have cute, little
around her home to entice her to leave her comfy bed and get ears hidden in her fur, and an excellent sense of smell.
some exercise.
A beloved Animal Ambassador, Elsie makes appearances at About Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths: Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths
Zoo Chats, educational programs, and public-outreach events. are often confused with their cousins, Hoffman’s two-toed sloths.
She regularly travels outside of her home with her custom-designed The cousins are almost identical, except for slight skeletal variations.
tree to meet her adoring fans. Also, Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths live farther south than their cousins.

HSApgeeecl:ile7os:y,eLIai’rnmsnoaledus’s two-toed sloth Unfortunately, the habitat of both types of sloths is vanishing at an
SWDleHeaTexi6areaii:fegtymb-:aeFheieastaetLat:imreentstr1:atA8bulSenicposieucomuauthanintldsdAA,somamtnhebdreairfscrvsauaenidgtreoatraiPnbrlfeoosgr,reasmt : alarming rate because of deforestation. You and your family can help
protect rain forests.

When you purchase paper products and building
materials, look for the Forest Stewardship Council’s
logo. You’ll find it on products that are made without
recklessly deforesting rain forests.

6