Golden Lion Tamarins move in with two-toed sloth at Palm Beach Zoo

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — At Palm Beach Zoo, a Hoffman’s two-toed sloth is teaching golden lion tamarins the art of taking it easy.

The tree-dwelling species now share a newly opened habitat, complete with a thick canopy that brings a slice of South American forest to South Florida.

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The habitat opened over Labor Day weekend with Tamarins frolicking in treetops while sloths hang from branches. Zoo officials highlighted that the expansive network of vines, ropes, and tunnels encourages exploration.

“This habitat is not only a golden lion tamarin habitat but also a Hoffman’s two-toed sloth habitat. So we have two different species within the habitat,” Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society official Devin Clarke told the AP. ” Naturally, they’d be interacting in the wild as well. So, we’re happy to show off that natural ability as well.”

According to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, in the early 1970s, there were as few as 200 golden lion tamarins in the wild. They were upgraded from critically endangered to endangered in 2003 following intensive conservation efforts.

Officials say the exhibit is designed to spark a deeper connection with animals and inspire conservation.

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