New Braunfels zoo welcomes a baby sloth

A new addition unexpectedly joined the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo family on Nov. 17, 2017 when a baby sloth was born. 

The zoo says the birth was a total surprise for staffers. Sloths sleep up to 18 hours a day and have thick, wiry fur making it difficult to see signs of pregnancies, the zoo said. 

The new addition to the zoo's sloth family will nurse for about one month before moving onto solid foods. The zoo says the baby will stay wrapped against the mom for six months to two years. 

Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo says the baby's mom, Sylvia, has apparently fully embraced motherhood and is great parent!

A naming contest will take place on the zoo's Facebook page starting on Dec. 1.