Abilene Zoo Welcomes Sloth Bear from Washington, D.C.

ABILENE, TX — The Abilene Zoo has a new resident — at least for a little while. Vicki, a 12-year-old sloth bear from the Smithsonian National Zoo, has arrived in West Texas as a temporary guest ahead of the Abilene Zoo’s upcoming expansion project scheduled to break ground next spring.

Staff describe Vicki as smart and inquisitive. She has her signature poufy fur and a natural part down the middle. Her favorite activities include playing with enrichment toys and devouring massive quantities of insects, sometimes up to hundreds of thousands in one sitting.

Native to the forests of India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, sloth bears are one of the most distinctive bear species in the world. With their shaggy coats, long curved claws, and vacuum-like lips, sloth bears are insectivores that can consume up to 500,000 ants and termites a day. They play a vital role in maintaining the health of forest ecosystems.

With only about 30 sloth bears in North American zoos and fewer than 20,000 estimated in the wild, the species is considered vulnerable. Vicki is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, which supports conservation and responsible breeding of endangered species.

As a fun nod to pop culture, zoo officials noted that Baloo, the beloved bear from The Jungle Book, was inspired by a sloth bear.

According to the Abilene Zoo website:

• More than 1,000 animals representing 250 species, including lions, black rhinos, monkeys, bears, reptiles, birds, and amphibians
• Exhibits include: Giraffe Safari, where guests can hand-feed the herd; the Wetlands Boardwalk; Reptile House; Pampass Exhibit, Elm Creek Backyard, and the new Madagascar exhibit.
• Ride the Safari Express Train, Wildlife Carousel, dine al fresco at the Watering Hole concession stand, or paddle around Zoo Lake in a swan boat.

Guests can visit Vicki during the zoo’s summer hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.