Fernando the Sloth (c.2015-2025)
Obituary
Fernando the sloth died at the Phoenix Zoo in November following breathing difficulties.
Fernando, a 9-year-old two-toed sloth, died suddenly at the Phoenix Zoo on November 4, 2025. Fernando had been having trouble breathing and was receiving oxygen therapy when he passed away. He was diagnosed with mineralization of his aorta and aortic arterial branches in 2024. Fernando was transferred to Phoenix from the National Aquarium in Baltimore in 2017.
Sloths are popular at zoos and petting zoos because of their gentle nature and a face that appears to be “smiling.” Sloths are often featured in “encounters” where people pay to hold, interact with, or take photos of them. The Phoenix Zoo even sold videos of Fernando on Cameo, a platform that sells personalized videos from celebrities. Despite their popularity, encounters with humans are frightening and stressful for sloths. Studies have found that sloths sleep less and behave abnormally when they are handled. These encounters are also dangerous for humans. Though sloths are generally passive, they have bitten adults and children during encounters.
Sloths are fascinating animals. The modern sloth is about the size of a small dog, weighing between eight and 17 pounds. But they descended from a much larger animal, the Megatherium, a giant extinct ground sloth who reached the size of a modern-day Asian elephant. Sloths spend most of their time hanging upside down. While that would be uncomfortable for humans, a sloth’s organs are attached to their ribcage, which reduces pressure on their lungs.
World Animal Protection urges everyone who loves sloths to avoid zoos and enjoy them in the wild or sanctuaries.
