Bioparc Fuengirola confirms that the sloth born in February is female and is already looking for a name

Born in February, it was not until this Wednesday that Bioparc Fuengirola confirmed that the baby sloth is a female, a particularly relevant piece of news due to the difficulty in determining the sex of this species during its first months of life. In fact, the discovery was made possible thanks to a DNA analysis performed in a specialized laboratory using a hair sample, a non-invasive technique that accurately determined the sex of the individual. "In sloths, the physical differences between males and females are practically imperceptible at a glance, especially when they are young, so genetic studies are often necessary to confirm it," the park stated in a note. "This procedure is of great interest both for veterinary monitoring and for conservation and management programs of the species," they highlighted. Since its birth, the team at Bioparc Fuengirola has been "constantly monitoring the development of the little one, observing a very positive growth appropriate for her age," they detailed. During these first months of life, the baby remains almost all the time with her mother, clinging to her to move around, rest, or feed, a behavior "completely natural and essential for her survival and learning," they explained. However, the technical team has already begun to detect "small advances" in her behavior that reflect the beginning of a stage of greater independence. Although she still constantly seeks the contact and protection of her mother, the young sloth is beginning to show curiosity about her surroundings, making brief attempts to separate herself to explore nearby branches or move independently for a few moments before returning to her mother. As she continues to grow, she will progressively increase her autonomy and develop essential skills such as independent movement, habitat exploration, or interaction with the environment," the park points out. The public will be able to participate in choosing the name of the little sloth through an open vote on the Bioparc Fuengirola website among three proposals: Priscilla—in homage to the sloth character Flash's partner in the movie Zootopia—, Naya—a name of Mapuche origin meaning "free as the wind"—, and Ceiba—inspired by the tropical tree known as "the tree of life."