ZooParc Overloon prepares for arrival of two-fingered sloth Odin

ZooParc's resident population will be joined in two weeks by a two-fingered sloth. This unusual animal, which hangs upside down so much that the hairs on its fur grow down, pees only once a week and cannot count to three on its fingers, will be on display at the zoo in Overloon starting August 10.

Odin, as the one-and-a-half-year-old sloth is called, comes from Zoo Heidelberg in Germany, where he was born. He gets a spot at the end of the walking trail, in the giant anteater's enclosure.

Own planFor general manager Roel Huibers, the arrival of the sloth is a long-cherished dream. "I think they are fantastic animals," he reveals. "They do everything just a little differently, hanging upside down in the tree and not being in a hurry at all. They seem oblivious to their surroundings and just draw their own plan. I love that immensely."

ZooParc is the fifth place in the Netherlands to admire sloths. Odin comes to ZooParc as part of the European breeding program, although it will be some time before a female is added. Huibers: "Sloths are solitary animals, so they don't mind being alone at all. But it would be nice if in a few years we have a pair here and possibly even a little one."

Upside downThe two-fingered sloth is native to the forests of northeastern South America and can live up to forty years. This species of sloth has two hooked fingers on the hand and three on each foot. Unlike the three-fingered sloth, it has no tail. It sleeps up to fifteen hours a day and eats mostly leaves. "Odin loves chicory," according to head of animal care Steven van den Heuvel.

Sloths do everything upside down, even sleeping, mating and giving birth to young. As a result, even the hairs of its fur grow from its belly to its back. They walk as little as possible, but they swim like the best of them. The sloth only has to come out of the tree once a week, and that is to relieve itself.

CompetitionTo celebrate the arrival of the sloth, the park is holding a special competition. The zoo is calling on people to submit a photo via Facebook showing them hanging like a sloth. The winner will get the chance to be the first visitor to view the sloth.