After winning the hearts of Como staff, volunteers, and guests over the past two months, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s baby Hoffman’s two-toed sloth finally has a name!
Following a campus-wide vote involving zoo and conservatory staff, volunteers, and Como Friends employees, our newest Hoffman’s two-toed sloth has been named Cusi (pronounced KOO-see), a Quechua word meaning “joy.”
The name received overwhelming support, earning nearly 70% of the vote over the other finalists: Tucuma (15%), Areca (10%), and Cohune (4%). Staff from across the Como campus, including animal care, horticulture, visitor services, education, maintenance, administration, volunteers, and Como Friends, all helped choose the winning name.
“Cusi felt like the perfect name for this little one,” said Senior Zookeeper Jill Erzar. “From the very beginning, this baby has brought so much joy to our animal care team and to everyone across the Como campus. It’s been wonderful to see so many people become invested in Cusi’s story, and watching this little one grow stronger and more adventurous every day has been incredibly rewarding.”
Why “Cusi”?
Like mom Sago, whose name comes from the sago palm, many of the finalist names were inspired by palm species native to Central and South America, where Hoffman’s two-toed sloths are found.
The name Cusi was chosen to reflect another part of the sloth’s native range. Two-toed sloths also inhabit parts of the Peruvian rainforest, where Quechua is spoken by many Indigenous communities. In Quechua, Cusi means “joy,” a fitting name for a baby that has brought smiles to so many people.
Growing Stronger Every Day
Cusi was born on May 6 to parents Sago and Ziggy as part of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding recommendation. The SSP helps maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations of animals in accredited zoos while supporting the long-term conservation of species.
Many guests followed Sago’s first pregnancy last year, when she gave birth prematurely to a baby that sadly did not survive. While that loss was difficult for our animal care team and many guests who followed the story, everyone is thrilled to see Cusi thriving.
Today, both mom and baby are doing exceptionally well.
“Cusi has been extremely active, as far as sloths go,” said Zookeeper Em Brunmeier. “Cusi has become interested in solid foods at a remarkably young age and is constantly trying to sample whatever Sago is eating. One day it’s cherry tomatoes, the next it’s green beans. Every day seems to bring a new favorite.”
While Cusi still spends nearly all of the day riding securely on Sago’s chest, the youngster occasionally ventures around the nesting area during feedings, eagerly exploring before climbing back onto mom.
Animal care staff continue to take a hands-off approach to Cusi’s care. Rather than separating the baby from Sago for routine handling, keepers visually monitor both animals and offer small food items while allowing the pair to remain together, minimizing unnecessary stress.
“We joke that Sago is enjoying ‘breakfast in bed’ every morning,” Em said. “While we’re checking on Cusi, we bring food right to her, and she’s been an incredible mom throughout the process.”
Boy or Girl? We Still Don’t Know!
Although Cusi now has a name, one question still remains: Is Cusi a boy or a girl?
Animal care staff still don’t know. Determining the sex of young Hoffman’s two-toed sloths can take quite some time because they show very subtle external differences and do not exhibit obvious sexual dimorphism at this age.
“Cusi is looking very healthy and makes us smile every single day,” Em added. “Cusi is bold, curious, a little goofy, and becoming more adventurous all the time. We can’t wait for our guests to watch Cusi continue to grow.”
Come Meet Cusi
Guests can see Cusi and Sago in the Primate Building, where they share their habitat with Como’s saki monkeys. Stop by during your next visit and see if you can catch Cusi exploring, sampling new foods, or snuggled up with mom.
About Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloths
Native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, Hoffman’s two-toed sloths spend nearly their entire lives in the trees. Their slow movements help them conserve energy while feeding primarily on leaves, fruits, and other vegetation. Young sloths remain closely attached to their mothers for several months as they grow, learn, and gradually become more independent.
