Florida wildlife officials find no evidence of criminal neglect in sloth deaths
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Florida wildlife officials said there is no evidence of criminal neglect or abuse in the deaths of 31 sloths imported for the proposed Sloth World attraction on International Drive.
The first shipment of sloths arrived from Peru in late 2024. During a January cold snap, owners used space heaters to keep the animals warm inside a warehouse. Investigators said an electrical breaker tripped, cutting power to the heaters, which led to the deaths of 21 sloths from cold stress.
A second shipment arrived the following month. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), two sloths arrived dead from disease, while eight others were already sick and later died, bringing the total number of deaths to 31.
The 13 surviving sloths were transferred to the Central Florida Zoo. Five of those sloths have since died, but the remaining eight are nearing the end of their quarantine.
“I think we’re finally at a point now — at least for the last, really, month and a half — where we really reached a point of stability for these guys,” said Dr. Haley Straub, associate veterinarian at the Central Florida Zoo.
The zoo is now working with the Species Survival Program to find permanent homes for the surviving sloths, named Chewy, Dolce, Phantom, Blackberry, Hazel, Leeloo, Mojo Jojo, and Pearl.
“Our goal is to have definitely several of them here with us at Central Florida Zoo,” she said.
The case has led to changes in Florida’s wildlife import rules. Importers are now required to obtain a wildlife import permit before bringing sloths into the state.
“I think this has been a huge turning point for the public to get on this story and see kind of what can happen if there aren’t that type of restriction or regulations on wildlife-imports loss or just one of the species that are affected there,” Dr. Straub said.
On Tuesday, Orange County commissioners are expected to discuss whether additional local oversight is needed for wildlife attractions.
“It’s making sure that we can do what we can from the county level to make sure that this does not happen again and that there are more safeguards in place,” said Michael Scott, Orange County commissioner for District 6.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said it is still investigating the case and expects to complete its investigation in the next couple of weeks.