The Vancouver Aquarium announced the passing of Hurricane, a beloved two-toed sloth, on Monday afternoon. “With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to beloved sloth, Hurricane,” reads the Vancouver Aquarium update. In a statement emailed to CTV News, aquarium spokesperson Todd Hauptman said Hurricane was born at Salisbury Zoological Park in the U.S. and came into the Vancouver Aquarium’s care in 1999. “Whether climbing through her exhibit or pausing to curiously observe guests, Hurricane had a special way of connecting with those around her. Her curious nature and daily interactions created meaningful moments for both her care team and the many visitors who had the opportunity to meet her,” he said. “Her presence brought joy to countless visitors and created lasting memories for our team. While her passing leaves a profound sense of loss, the impact she made will live on for years to come.” On June 29, the aquarium posted on social media to wish Hurricane a happy birthday, sharing a video of the sloth chomping on leafy greens. One year prior, a video posted by aquarium staff shows Hurricane celebrating with carrots instead. Hurricane is a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, and according to the aquarium’s website, the species spends most of its life hanging upside down in trees and moving as little as possible. “They are the embodiment of the phrase ‘slow and steady wins the race,” staff described. “Despite their sluggish reputation, Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths are the ultimate multitaskers—climbing, eating, and snoozing all at the same time.” “Their long, curved claws and powerful arms allow them to hang upside down for hours without any effort.” Hurricane wasn’t the only two-toed sloth to call the Graham Amazon Gallery home, and aquarium patrons can still find Sally, age 28, hanging from the trees if they look long enough. Sally is known as a master of camouflage, and photos shared online show it takes a keen eye to spot her. The aquarium said it hopes its sloth exhibit serves “as a reminder to slow down more and appreciate the little things in life.”
