ROYAL OAK (WWJ) — The Detroit Zoo has a new resident that will soon be introduced to visitors.
Zoo officials on Thursday announced the arrival of Jagger, a 3-year-old sloth bear. She is the first of her kind at the zoo in decades, officials said.
While she’s still “behind the scenes” as she gets acclimated to her new home, the sloth bear is expected to be “venturing outdoors” sometime in the next week, officials said.
Native to the Indian subcontinent, sloth bears are natural foragers, feasting on termites and ants in the wild, according to the zoo. These solitary bears can grow up to 6-feet-tall and can fully close their nostrils to keep unwanted bugs out while eating.
While sloth bears are not related to sloths — nor are they slow-moving — the San Diego Zoo says the species was named by European zoologist George Shaw, who named it for its long, thick claws and unusual teeth. He thought the bear was related to the sloth for those features.
“The sloth bear is a bit messy in appearance. It has long, rough, unruly hair around its ears, shoulders, and neck that is cinnamon to dark brown in color,” according to the San Diego Zoo website. “The pale muzzle and a flexible nose sniff out interesting smells. The sloth bear often has a white patch of fur on its chest in the shape of a Y, O, or U. With a stocky body and powerful legs, this medium-size bear is able to climb trees. The sloth bear cannot pull in its claws like a cat's, so it looks a bit awkward when walking.”
Born at the Idaho Falls Zoo, officials say Jagger loves exploring and interacting with her surroundings.
The announcement of Jagger’s arrival comes two weeks ahead of the zoo’s annual Giving Zoo Day. Officials say this year’s gifts can directly impact Jagger’s life as she settles into her new habitat.
Donations this year will go toward enrichment items like a wobble chair, a food ball and more that will enhance her new habitat and promote her well-being through interactive play.
“Enrichment pieces, like the wobble chair, will provide her with hours of enjoyment, curiosity and a fun way to stay active in her new home,” officials said in a release.
The Jeffrey Farber Family Foundation will match every donation dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000 to help enrich Jagger’s new home, along with the other animals at the zoo.