‘We have lost another sloth’: Zoo says 3rd animal linked to ‘Sloth World’ dies
Updated: 11:08 AM EDT May 5, 2026
Another sloth connected to the now-shuttered Sloth World Orlando attraction has died after being rescued and taken in by the Central Florida Zoo, according to the zoo’s veterinarian team.In a statement shared Tuesday morning to social media, the zoo said that Dumpling — a sloth that it received on April 24 — took a “sudden and rapid downtown” the day prior while struggling with digestion and gastrointestinal issues.”(…) Dumpling was one of a select group of animals who arrived at the Zoo in critical condition. While the past 11 days had been a series of ups and downs, Dumpling continued to struggle with digestion and gastrointestinal (GI) issues, and took a sudden and rapid downturn Monday morning,” the statement reads, in part. “This has been an incredibly difficult week for our team, as everyone involved in caring for these animals can attest. As previously stated, sloths have a tendency to hide any signs of extreme illness until it is often too late for reversal, at which point, their condition can decline very rapidly and without advance warning. In addition, their metabolisms work so slowly, it could potentially take many weeks for any pre-existing issues to manifest.”In the post, the zoo stated Dumpling’s death reflected the day-by-day situation that the remaining sloths face following its receipt of 13 sloths rescued in the wake of more than 30 others which died after being left in an unheated warehouse before arriving to the beleaguered Sloth World Orlando attraction on I-Drive. According to Richard Glover, the zoo’s CEO, two other sloths that were taken in by the zoo had already died before Dumpling.“We knew this was an uphill battle, but it’s really tough on the team to lose them,” Glover said over the weekend.>> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released
SANFORD, Fla. —
Another sloth connected to the now-shuttered Sloth World Orlando attraction has died after being rescued and taken in by the Central Florida Zoo, according to the zoo’s veterinarian team.
In a statement shared Tuesday morning to social media, the zoo said that Dumpling — a sloth that it received on April 24 — took a “sudden and rapid downtown” the day prior while struggling with digestion and gastrointestinal issues.
“(…) Dumpling was one of a select group of animals who arrived at the Zoo in critical condition. While the past 11 days had been a series of ups and downs, Dumpling continued to struggle with digestion and gastrointestinal (GI) issues, and took a sudden and rapid downturn Monday morning,” the statement reads, in part. “This has been an incredibly difficult week for our team, as everyone involved in caring for these animals can attest. As previously stated, sloths have a tendency to hide any signs of extreme illness until it is often too late for reversal, at which point, their condition can decline very rapidly and without advance warning. In addition, their metabolisms work so slowly, it could potentially take many weeks for any pre-existing issues to manifest.”
In the post, the zoo stated Dumpling’s death reflected the day-by-day situation that the remaining sloths face following its receipt of 13 sloths rescued in the wake of more than 30 others which died after being left in an unheated warehouse before arriving to the beleaguered Sloth World Orlando attraction on I-Drive.
According to Richard Glover, the zoo’s CEO, two other sloths that were taken in by the zoo had already died before Dumpling.
“We knew this was an uphill battle, but it’s really tough on the team to lose them,” Glover said over the weekend.
>> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released