ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Orange County leaders are considering restrictions on importing exotic animals for commercial entertainment following the deaths of dozens of sloths connected to the failed Sloth World attraction.
Commissioner Nicole Wilson brought the proposal before the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, asking the county to examine whether its zoning, business-licensing and public-safety authority could prevent similar incidents.
No ordinance was approved. The discussion begins a review of what the county can regulate without conflicting with state and federal wildlife laws.
Wilson proposed prohibiting exotic wildlife imports for commercial entertainment while considering exemptions for accredited zoos, wildlife rehabilitators, veterinary facilities, educational institutions and qualified sanctuaries. Possible enforcement measures include licensing requirements, land-use approvals, civil penalties and code enforcement.
The proposal was listed on Tuesday’s agenda as a discussion of a “Countywide Prohibition on the Importation of Exotic Wildlife for Entertainment Purposes.”
The action follows mounting scrutiny of Sloth World, which planned to offer close-up encounters with sloths near Orlando but never opened.
At least 57 sloths connected to the business died after animals were imported from Guyana and Peru. Records showed some were kept in a warehouse without permanent electricity or running water and were exposed to cold temperatures. Thirteen surviving animals were later transferred to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens for emergency care, where several subsequently died.
During public comment Tuesday, residents praised Wilson and the zoo while criticizing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s response.
Elizabeth Osborne told commissioners that state wildlife officials knew about Sloth World in December 2024 but did not conduct their first inspection until August 2025, after 21 sloths had died. She said the case showed “a clear failure” of wildlife oversight and urged the county to close regulatory loopholes.
Janet Osborne called the controversy “a defining moment for wildlife” and thanked Central Florida Zoo employees for treating the surviving animals.
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The case has raised questions about why Sloth World was allowed to continue receiving animals after regulators learned of earlier deaths. FWC temporarily halted sloth imports statewide and later added a permit requirement intended to trigger inspections before future shipments.
Wilson’s proposal would apply more broadly to exotic animals imported for entertainment.
In a May memo, she argued that the controversy exposed gaps involving animal welfare, public safety and consumer protection while also threatening Orange County’s tourism reputation.
“Incidents involving animal neglect, unsafe practices, or the exploitation of wildlife for entertainment purposes do not exist in isolation,” Wilson wrote. “They can create lasting reputational consequences that affect our broader tourism brand and economic identity.”
County attorneys and staff must now determine whether Orange County can regulate such businesses through zoning, licensing and public-safety rules despite state control over captive wildlife permits.
Wilson said the goal is not to interfere with legitimate conservation, veterinary or rehabilitation work, but to prevent entertainment businesses from importing vulnerable animals without adequate safeguards.
“The Sloth World tragedy should not be viewed as an isolated incident,” she wrote, “but rather as an opportunity to examine whether gaps exist within the systems intended to protect animals, residents, and visitors.”