Sloth named Jude in call for Bellingham glory

This Jude will never move as fast as its footballing namesake - but it's hanging around to be a lucky charm for Bellingham and the boys in their bid for glory.

The baby two-toed sloth has been named after local Stourbridge lad Jude, as Euros 2024 final fever grips Dudley Zoo along with the nation.

The moniker was the most popular choice after a call for suggestions was put out on the zoo's social media pages.

Jude is the newest arrival at the zoo where, on Thursday, big cat Keshari used his uncannily accurate prediction prowess to indicate glory for the Three Lions in Sunday's final against Spain.

Jude's lucky charm status for England's glory comes after the zoo's big cat Keshari predicted the Three Lions will bring football home

Primate section leader Jodie Dryden said Jude, born on 5 June to parents Flo and Reggie, is still clinging so much to its mother, they don't know whether it's a boy or a girl.

“Jude was an obvious moniker for our baby, who was born just before the start of the Euros, as we throw our local and national support behind Jude and the team ahead of Sunday’s final," she said.

“Plus, as we don’t yet know the baby’s sex, as it’s still clinging tightly to mum, Jude is also a lovely unisex name and suits baby really well."

Ms Dryden explained Flo and her baby were doing really well.

"With it being her third baby in two years, she’s very experienced and her one-year-old daughter Zippy is taking a keen interest in her new brother or sister,” she added.

Sloths give birth while hanging upside down with the baby instinctively crawling on to mum’s stomach where it will remain for at least six months.

They are native to the tropical forests found in the north of South America.