Zoo staff devastated after beloved sloth passes away

Jersey Zoo has announced the sudden death of Terry, a much-loved female Linne’s two-toed sloth, leaving keepers and visitors alike deeply saddened.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Terry had a piece of food lodged in her airway, though further test results are still pending, zoo officials confirmed.

Describing staff as “heartbroken at the sudden and unexpected death,” the zoo said the sloth house will remain closed until further notice.

Terry leaves behind her 10-month-old daughter, Jemma, who is being closely monitored by her keepers to ensure she adjusts well to life without her mother.

Terry joined Jersey Zoo from London Zoo in 2022 as part of a European breeding programme. Her partner, Rio, who came from Bristol Zoo, passed away earlier this year at the age of 23, shortly after the birth of their daughter.

Native to tropical lowland forests, Linne’s two-toed sloths spend up to 15 hours a day sleeping, with the remainder of their time devoted to feeding and resting among the trees, the zoo added.