Some animals have impressive speed. Others can fly at incredible heights. Sloths? They take their sweet time, and they've made an art of it. Believe It or Not!, a wild sloth climbs down from the treetops only about once a week, spending nearly its entire life hanging upside-down in the rainforest canopy.
You don't have to trek deep into a South American jungle to meet one. At Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, Sloth Valley is home to two resident two-toed sloths who are always ready for their close-up.
Meet Rico and Cleo
Say hello to Rico and Cleo, the stars of Sloth Valley. These two-toed sloths each have their own distinctive personality, playful pastimes, and favorite treats.
Whether they're reaching for a leaf, puzzling over an enrichment toy, or simply lounging in the branches, Rico and Cleo prove that life in the slow lane is anything but boring.
Slow, Strange, and Seriously Cool
Sloths are some of the most wonderfully odd animals on the planet. Those "two-toed" sloths? They're actually named for the two digits on their front feet. They run so cool that they hold the record for the lowest variable body temperature of any mammal, dipping to just 75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit!
Out in the wild, algae grows right in their fur, tinting them green so they blend seamlessly into the canopy.
Did You Know: Two-toed sloths may look clumsy on land, but once in water they become surprisingly graceful swimmers.
Step Inside the Rainforest
Sloth Valley is a state-of-the-art habitat designed with two goals in mind: giving guests an unforgettable up-close encounter and providing Rico and Cleo with the highest standard of animal care.
Look closely, and you'll spot enrichment toys that keep the sloths sharpening their puzzle-solving skills. Listen, and you'll hear rainforest sounds that mimic their natural home and keep them stimulated. Look up, and you'll notice vines and branches placed with care, giving each sloth plenty of room to climb, stretch, and rest.
And if you want the full experience, book a Sloth Encounter add-on: guided by an animal care expert, you'll go behind the scenes to learn how the team looks after its animals, then step inside Sloth Valley during Rico and Cleo's feeding time to meet them up close and feel that rainforest humidity for yourself.
Why Sloths Need Our Help
The rainforests sloths call home are disappearing fast. Across northern South America, the tropical forests where two-toed sloths feed, sleep, and raise their young face growing pressure from deforestation, and because sloths depend on an unbroken canopy to move safely from tree to tree, a fragmented forest hits them especially hard.
That's exactly why an encounter with Rico and Cleo matters. Most people will never see a sloth in the wild, but meeting one face-to-face has a way of turning curiosity into care, and care is where conservation begins. By introducing guests to sloths in a habitat built entirely around their well-being, Sloth Valley helps connect a moment of wonder to the wild places these animals depend on.
Plan Your Visit
There's only one place on Earth to experience Sloth Valley, and it's right here at Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach!
So come hang out with Rico and Cleo, slow down, and discover why these upside-down wonders are stealing hearts one leisurely stretch at a time. We'll save you a spot in the canopy.