An expansive new habitat for the Palm Beach Zoo’s sloths and tamarins has officially opened to the public.
The zoo’s three golden lion tamarins and two sloths are now housed within a lush canopy of trees and vines to swing and roam through—or in the sloths’ case, languidly hang and relax. Visitors to the zoo can get an up close look at the animals in this immersive new habitat, getting within arms length as they learn more about the challenges sloths and tamarins face in the wild.
The enclosure spans more than 1,700 feet and includes sleeping nooks, tunnels and branches to encourage exploration, particularly for the tamarins, an endangered species of primate. Both sloths, Dustin and Fern, and two of the tamarins, Rosy and Gabriel were born at the zoo. The new habitat aims to increase public awareness of conservation efforts.
“This new habitat is more than an exciting way to meet our sloths and tamarins—it’s a bridge between people and wildlife,” said Palm Beach Zoo President and CEO Margo McKnight in a statement. “We hope to foster a love for wildlife in wild places, including our own backyards. We hope every person leaves inspired to be a wildlife hero in their own community.”
