Oldest living sloth in captivity
Who
Jan
What
53:00 year(s), day(s)
Where
Deutschland (Krefeld)
When

A male Linne’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) named Jan – a resident at Krefeld Zoo in Germany since 30 April 1986 – is at least 53 years old as of 25 July 2023. 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 has nominated 30 April as his birthday.


This also makes Jan the oldest documented sloth in captivity ever.

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 where he has resided ever since.

Despite his impressive age, Jan is still playing his part in the zoo’s sloth breeding programme. In February 2023, he became a father for the 21st time.