GIRLFRIEND HOME FROM WORK. PEREZ IS EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN COURT TODAY. THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION IS WORKING ON AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CREATE A TEMPORARY BAN ON SLOTH IMPORTS TO FLORIDA. THIS IS AFTER 55 SLOTS FROM ATTRACTION SLOTH WORLD DIED WESH TWO. JOHN KENNEDY MASON IS LIVE AT THE CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO WITH WHAT ADVOCATES ARE CALLING A MAJOR STEP FORWARD. KENNEDY. YEAH, THIS IS A HUGE WIN FOR SO MANY LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR CHANGES FOR MONTHS. THE SLOTH INSTITUTE IN COSTA RICA SAYS WHILE THIS IS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON A PERMANENT BAN, WHICH DOES REQUIRE RULE CHANGING. THEY ALSO SAY THAT 98% OF SLOTHS THAT COME INTO THE U.S. GO THROUGH MIAMI. THEY SAY ENFORCEMENT WILL REQUIRE COORDINATION WITH U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION. RIGHT NOW, THE PROPOSED ORDER DOES NOT ADDRESS CURRENT OWNERSHIP OR THE SALE OF SLOTHS IN FLORIDA. ACCORDING TO THEM, ADVOCATES SAY THAT’S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE MANY SLOTHS ARE SOLD ONLINE, WHICH IS WHY THEY ARE ALSO WORKING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. SAM TRULL WITH THE SLOTH INSTITUTE, SAYS THERE WERE ERRORS IN THE NECROPSY REPORTS FROM THE DEAD LOSS WITH THE NECROPSY. WE DEFINITELY FOUND THAT IT WAS MORE, YOU KNOW, DIET RELATED ISSUES. THAT’S WHAT CAUSED THE INTESTINAL ISSUES. AND ALSO THE THERE WAS TRAUMA ON THE SPINAL CORDS. AND THEY’VE ALSO BEEN FOUND TO BE VERY EMACIATED. SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT A VIRUS OR SOME KIND OF DISEASE THAT COULDN’T BE PREVENTED IS JUST NOT ACTUALLY SUBSTANTIATED BY THE NECROPSY. ADVOCATES SAY FWC OFFICIALS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THEY ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT VETERINARIANS OR SCIENTISTS. TRULL AND OTHER CONSERVATION LEADERS HOPE TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR FWC STAFF AND WORK WITH THE USDA TO ESTABLISH CLEARER STANDARDS FOR SLOTH CARE. LEADERS SAY THEY DID JUST RECENTLY MEET WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND THEY ARE TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. THEY SAY THEY ARE LOOKING IN TO MULTIPLE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING WHETHER THIS LOSS WERE LEGALLY IMPORTED FROM PERU.
Florida wildlife officials propose temporary ban on sloth imports after deaths
Updated: 12:51 PM EDT May 13, 2026
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is working on an executive order to temporarily ban sloth imports to Florida after 55 sloths from the attraction “Sloth World” died. Advocates are calling this a major step forward, with the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica describing the executive order as a step in the right direction. However, the institute is still pushing for a permanent ban through rule changes. Leaders with the institute said nearly 98% of sloth imports enter the country through Miami, and enforcing the temporary pause would require coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The proposed order does not address current ownership or the sale of sloths in Florida, which advocates said is a challenge because many sloths are sold online. Advocates are also working with county commissioners to address local regulations. Sam Trull, with the Sloth Institute, discussed findings from necropsy reports on the deceased sloths. “With the necropsy reports, we definitely found that it was more diet-related issues that caused the intestinal issues, and also there was trauma on the spinal cords, and they have also been found to be very emaciated, so I think talking about a virus or some kind of disease that couldn’t be prevented is just not actually substantiated by the necropsies,” Trull said. Advocates said Florida wildlife officials have acknowledged that they are law enforcement officers, not veterinarians or scientists. Trull and other conservation leaders hope to provide training for wildlife staff and work with the USDA to establish clearer standards for sloth care. Advocates also said they recently met with the state attorney’s office and are taking the issue seriously.They added that several criminal investigations could be initiated.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is working on an executive order to temporarily ban sloth imports to Florida after 55 sloths from the attraction “Sloth World” died.
Advocates are calling this a major step forward, with the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica describing the executive order as a step in the right direction.
However, the institute is still pushing for a permanent ban through rule changes. Leaders with the institute said nearly 98% of sloth imports enter the country through Miami, and enforcing the temporary pause would require coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The proposed order does not address current ownership or the sale of sloths in Florida, which advocates said is a challenge because many sloths are sold online. Advocates are also working with county commissioners to address local regulations.
Sam Trull, with the Sloth Institute, discussed findings from necropsy reports on the deceased sloths.
“With the necropsy reports, we definitely found that it was more diet-related issues that caused the intestinal issues, and also there was trauma on the spinal cords, and they have also been found to be very emaciated, so I think talking about a virus or some kind of disease that couldn’t be prevented is just not actually substantiated by the necropsies,” Trull said.
Advocates said Florida wildlife officials have acknowledged that they are law enforcement officers, not veterinarians or scientists. Trull and other conservation leaders hope to provide training for wildlife staff and work with the USDA to establish clearer standards for sloth care.
Advocates also said they recently met with the state attorney’s office and are taking the issue seriously.
They added that several criminal investigations could be initiated.