A few grey hairs, but otherwise fit as a fiddle: Paula, the world's oldest sloth, turned 50 years old at the Mountain Zoo in the German city of Halle on Friday.
Paula arrived in Halle from South America in 1971 when she was about 2 years old, zoo curator Jutta Heuer said at the birthday reception.
There is no two-toed sloth known to be older in zoos or the wild. Heuer said Paula is still quite energetic for her advanced age - the equivalent of at least 90 in human years.
The sloth celebrated her birthday diligently eating from a vegetable plate. Her favourite dish was also served: cooked maize. In Europe, 280 living members of the same species are registered.