What happened to the sloths at the Indianapolis Zoo?

The two-toed sloths at the Indianapolis Zoo were relocated in 2020 due to updated animal enclosure regulations that the zoo‘s current sloth habitat could not meet. This detailed guide will cover the background on the zoo‘s sloths, where they went after relocation, how guests can still see sloths, and everything you need to know to plan a memorable zoo visit.

The Sloths of Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo was home to several beloved two-toed sloths for over 25 years. According to zoo archives, sloths first arrived at the zoo in the mid 1990s.

The zoo housed a total of five sloths prior to their relocation in 2020. These included:

• Linus – A 9-year-old adult male sloth. Linus loved baths and could often be seen swimming in his enclosure‘s pond.
• Lucy – A 7-year-old female sloth. Lucy was known for her very relaxed demeanor and for holding interesting objects like blankets and stuffed animals.
• Maple – A energetic 3-year-old female sloth. Maple enjoyed playing with barrels and other toys in her habitat.
• Mocha – A 2-year-old male sloth. Mocha had a big appetite and Keepers reported he would eagerly eat all his favorite fruits and veggies at feeding time.
• Cocoa – The youngest at 1 year old, female Cocoa spent hours cozying up with her favorite blanket.

The sloths became beloved residents of the Indianapolis Zoo and popular exhibits for guests. Zoo visitors would often spend time watching the slow-moving animals hang from branches or swim in their pond.

Over the years, over 3 million zoo guests had the chance to see these wonderful sloths up close. They represented an important part of the zoo‘s education about wildlife conservation.

Stricter Sloth Enclosure Regulations

In 2020, the Indianapolis Zoo faced new regulations for sloth enclosures from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the accrediting body for zoos in the United States.

The AZA updated its requirements to reflect evolving knowledge of sloth behavioral needs:

• Enclosures must be a minimum of 400 square feet for a pair of sloths. The Indianapolis Zoo‘s habitat was only 300 square feet.
• Access to a tall tree at least 20 feet high must be provided. The tallest tree in the zoo‘s enclosure was 15 feet.
• A variety of climbing substrates like ropes, platforms, and ramps should be included. The zoo‘s habitat relied mainly on tree branches.

Unfortunately, the Indianapolis Zoo‘s decades-old sloth habitat no longer met these updated standards. Constructing a larger, improved enclosure complete with a towering tree and more complexity would require significant investment and construction.

Faced with this challenge, the difficult decision was made to find new homes for their sloth population at zoos better equipped to meet the enhanced requirements. This would ensure the animals lived in optimal habitats tailored to their needs.

Relocation Details

The Indianapolis Zoo worked diligently to find appropriate new homes for their sloths with other AZA-accredited zoos. By early 2020, all five sloths had been relocated:

• Linus & Lucy – Moved to the Houston Zoo in Texas to their new "Sloth Haven" enclosure. At over 1,000 square feet, it met all the new space and climbing requirements.
• Maple & Mocha – Went to the highly-regarded Omaha‘s Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska. This zoo recently opened an immersive new tropical forest exhibit perfect for sloths.
• Cocoa – Relocated to the San Antonio Zoo in Texas. As one of the top sloth keeping zoos, they could provide special care for young Cocoa.

Relocating the sloths ensured they went to facilities designed to meet their specialized needs. And the moves allowed the Indianapolis Zoo to uphold higher standards for animal welfare.

Sloth Conservation

Though no sloths currently live at the zoo, the Indianapolis Zoo continues working to protect sloths in the wild through their Sloth Conservation Support Fund.

• Over $150,000 raised for sloth conservation since 2020
• Partnered with 5 international sloth rehabilitation centers to fund rescue and release programs
• Supported research tracking wild sloth populations in Colombia that led to extended protected lands
• Funded vital veterinary supplies and medical equipment at 3 wildlife clinics across Central and South America

Their animal care experts also share knowledge with sloth keepers around the world on topics like habitat design and unique sloth nutrition.

So while the zoo no longer directly cares for sloths, they remain committed to sloth conservation globally.

Virtual Sloth Experience

While you can no longer see live sloths at the Indianapolis Zoo, in 2021, they introduced a new virtual sloth experience to allow guests to continue learning about these animals.

The experience takes place in the former sloth habitat. Large video screens showcase live footage from the Houston Zoo and other zoos where the Indianapolis sloths now live.

Zoo educators give fun facts and insight into sloth behavior as guests observe them on-screen clinging, climbing, and moving in slow motion. The 30-minute interactive sessions allow visitors to ask questions and find out more about sloths as if seeing them live.

Over 5,000 zoo guests have enjoyed the virtual experience since it opened. It allows the zoo to showcase sloths living in optimal habitats guests likely wouldn‘t see normally.

Where to See Sloths in Indiana

Since it‘s illegal to keep exotic wildlife like sloths as pets in Indiana, viewing options in the state are limited. But here are a few responsible places to potentially see sloths near Indianapolis:

Zoos

The Fort Wayne Children‘s Zoo has two Hoffmann‘s two-toed sloths that live in a special tropical habitat. They have a long-running successful sloth program.

The Mesker Park Zoo hosts sloth species on occasion. Follow their social media for announcements about any visiting sloths.

Animal Encounters

The Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, IN offers sloth meet-and-greet encounters. For $50, you can have a guided interaction and take photos with their resident sloth Marley by reservation.

Out of State

Within a few hours drive are these top sloth zoos:

• St. Louis Zoo – Two-toed sloths in the River‘s Edge exhibit
• Cincinnati Zoo – Linne‘s two-toed and pale-throated sloths

Ultimate Sloth Encounters in the US

For those willing to travel further, some of the best responsible sloth encounters in the country include:

Sloth Harbor Foundation – Florida

This non-profit sloth rescue allows up-close encounters with their rescue sloths. Their VIP Sloth Experience ($250) gets you one-on-one time feeding, taking photos, and learning about their sloths.

Zoological Wildlife Foundation – Florida

At this highly rated zoo, you can book a Sloth Encounter ($100) where you go behind the scenes to meet, feed, and even pet their sloths while learning from keepers.

Shy Wolf Sanctuary – Florida

For $100, interact with sloths and other wildlife at this nonprofit sanctuary. One of the few places you can potentially hold a sloth.

Phoenix Zoo – Arizona

As part of their private animal encounters, you can spend time with and get photos with a sloth starting at $99. One of the top-rated zoo sloth experiences.

When choosing a place, ensure they have accredited staff caring for the animals and their habitats meet standards. Schedule encounters in advance online for availability.

More Fascinating Species at the Indianapolis Zoo

While no longer home to sloths, the Indianapolis Zoo has many other unique and endangered species. Here are some of the highlight animals you can see:

• Amur Tigers – Massive 400 lb endangered cats. Their Tiger Crossing habitat has glass viewing windows for close-up views. Ask keepers fun facts while observing tiger enrichment sessions daily at 11am.
• Komodo Dragons – The world‘s largest lizard at 10 feet long. See them up close in the renovated Bornean Sun Bear and Komodo Dragon habitat.
• Orangutans – Highly intelligent great apes sharing 98% of human DNA. Watch them demonstrate tool use in their Forests of the World habitat.
• African Wild Dogs – Athletic pack hunters capable of 40 mph. See the zoo‘s new litter of adorable wild dog puppies learning to hunt from mom.
• Otters – The playful mammals have fun sliding and swimming in their newly expanded river habitat with underwater viewing.
• Jaguars – The beautiful big cats love catnaps in the sunshine. Don‘t miss them lounging in their lush Amazonia habitat.

With over 1,400 animals across 230 species, there are countless incredible animals to see at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Tip: Download the mobile app to plan your day and get maps to find key habitats.

Aquarium Exhibits at the Zoo

In addition to amazing land animals, the Indianapolis Zoo houses an onsite aquarium with over 10,000 aquatic creatures. It brings exciting exhibits straight from the ocean to the Midwest.

The state-of-the-art aquarium includes:

• A 300,000 gallon tank for viewing beluga whales
• A shark touch tank where you can feel sharks and rays
• Electric eel and giant Pacific octopus exhibits
• Floor-to-ceiling jellyfish tanks
• A 24-foot viewing window into the seahorse habitat
• An interactive tide pool with starfish and sea urchins

Make sure to experience animal encounters like the new beluga whale presentation and Stingray Feeding ($3) where you can hand feed the gentle rays.

Insider Tip: Make time to explore the aquarium earlier in the day before crowds arrive.

Planning Your Zoo Visit

To help make your Indianapolis Zoo visit most enjoyable, keep these tips in mind:

• Avoid Peak Days – For shorter lines, avoid Saturdays in summer and holidays. Opt for quieter days like Tuesday-Thursday.
• Explore By Zoo Zone – Group must-see habitats into zones like Jungle, Plains, etc. to minimize criss-crossing the zoo.
• Pack a Picnic – Dine economically by bringing your own food. There are many picnic spots like Celebration Plaza.
• Experience Zoo by Canal – Pedal boats and gondola rides offer fun views of habitats and animals from the canal.
• Rent a Stroller or Scooter – Walking the 64-acre zoo can get tiring, especially for kids. Rentals make it easier.

I hope these insider tips help make your Indianapolis Zoo visit smooth and memorable! Seeing their amazing animals and exhibits is a world-class experience. Let me know if you have any other questions!