AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Sloth Cub Hank Says Hello at the National Zoo

At six months, the Zoo’s first sloth cub in seven years made his public debut

Leah Binkovitz

Baby Hank out and about Thursday, June 20. Photos by Abby Wood, courtesy of the National Zoo

It was a big day Thursday for the National Zoo’s six-month-old sloth bear cub born last December–what with the climbing and exploring and posing and all. It was the debut public appearance for the Zoo’s first sloth cub born in seven years, named Hank after a vote from fans on Facebook. And he’s a bit of a rarity nationally with only 18 zoos exhibiting the species. Taking to the terrain quite nicely, he’ll now be a regular at his Asia Trail home every morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. In case you missed his eventful first day, here are some photos from the Zoo.

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Leah Binkovitz

Leah Binkovitz is a Stone & Holt Weeks Fellow at Washington Post and NPR. Previously, she was a contributing writer and editorial intern for the At the Smithsonian section of Smithsonian magazine.