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My afternoon with Fernando
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he Phoenix Zoo offers camp experiences for kids of all ages where each week-long session is filled with up-close animal encounters, behind-the-scenes experiences, handson activities, in-depth investigations and more. Now kids and their parents can have a
By Mala Blomquist
“backstage adventure” together with one of the zoo’s most popular residents – Fernando, the Linne’s two-toed sloth. Fernando came to the Phoenix Zoo at the end of 2017 from the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. After a year, sloths get “kicked out” of their family group, so that’s how he came to
FERNANDO
call Arizona home. Recently, my family and I experienced this backstage adventure guided by Mary Yoder, Fernando’s keeper and the collections manager of primates at the Phoenix Zoo. During the encounter, you enter into Fernando’s habitat as Mary shares her vast knowledge of this endearing creature. We were warned ahead of time that Fernando might be sleeping, but he woke up long enough for us to snap some photos and watch him eat a few fresh veggies. The name two-toed sloth comes from the fact that he has two “toes” on his front feet and three toes on the back. They look more like long talons than toes. His toes are also double-jointed, and he can move them in any direction, which helps him move quickly when necessary. Mary vouched for the fact that he can move when startled! He also has large canine teeth,
SLOTH BACKSTAGE ADVENTURE WHEN
Mondays 12:15 pm; this is a 45-minute tour and for only up to five guests WHERE
Phoenix Zoo 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix COST
$99 per person; children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paid person 16 years of age or older. INFORMATION
phoenixzoo.org/visit/tours/ 20
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
