• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

CBS 2 At Brookfield Zoo: Tree Sloths

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Aug 13, 2006 8:24 am US/Central

CBS 2 At Brookfield Zoo: Tree Sloths

They're Not Lazy, They're Just Slow

by Susan Carlson
(CBS) If you're like most people, you probably assume tree sloths are lazy, but that's not necessarily the case. They just move very slowly.

Brookfield Zoo's Andre Copeland explains that sloths move very slowly and rely on camouflage to avoid detection by predators.

They also spend the vast majority of their lives upside down. The only time they are right side up is when they come down from the trees once a week to use the bathroom and move to another tree.

Sloths are also sometimes covered in algae, which is part of their camouflage. Some experts say sloths can apsorb nutrients from the algae directly through their skin, while others say they eat the algae from their fur.

You can get an up-close and personal look at tree sloths at Brookfield Zoo's Tropical World.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Brookfield Zoo

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.