Oldest sloth in captivity ever

A male Linne’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) named Jan – a resident at Krefeld Zoo in Germany since 30 April 1986 – was at least 54 years old as of his death on 23 August 2024. Although born in the wild in South America, Jan was estimated to have been aged around six months when found on 1 May 1970. The zoo nominated 30 April as his birthday.

In the wild, the typical lifespan for two-toed sloths is around 20 years old; in captivity, that increases by around 10–20 years.

Jan was initially purchased by Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg, where he arrived on 9 December 1970 and lived there for just over 15 years, before being transferred to Krefeld Zoo in 1986. Jan continued to play his part in the zoo’s sloth breeding programme late into his life, and in March 2024, he became a father for the 22nd time. He passed away on 23 August 2024.