Leer en espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/p>\nState Rep. Anna Eskamani held a press conference Wednesday following another sloth death tied to Sloth World in Orlando. That latest loss now brings the total number of known sloth deaths connected to the facility to 55.<\/p>\n
\u201cDumpling\u201d is the third sloth to die in just days at the facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach time we lose one, it\u2019s just a reminder how delicate they are and how ill some of them are,\u201d said Central Florida Zoo CEO Richard Glover.<\/p>\n
Dumpling was one of 13 sloths surrendered by Sloth World Orlando before it even opened. Zoo officials said Dumpling was among four animals that required intensive care.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the one that had chronic diarrhea, that we have not been able to do anything about of the ones that are still with us,\u201d Glover said.<\/p>\n
Inside the zoo, staff members are now working around the clock to keep the remaining 10 sloths alive.<\/p>\n
But what they are finding is devastating.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so disheartening for us because these animals … they\u2019ve been fed the wrong things,\u201d Glover said.<\/p>\n
Investigators say the sloths were given improper diets for an extended period. Testing has revealed serious health issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen the same reports saying they got brown rice. What we see is we\u2019re testing their blood and we\u2019re seeing levels \u2014 really low potassium levels, really low for other minerals that should be in their body that aren\u2019t,\u201d Glover said.<\/p>\n
Now, the focus is shifting to accountability, but it remains unclear who will ultimately lead the investigation.<\/p>\n
The Florida Attorney General\u2019s Office confirmed a criminal investigation is underway with Attorney General James Uthmeier assisting as officials look into what happened.<\/p>\n
Eskamani also called for action during her press conference.<\/p>\n
For these animals, time is running out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are still hopeful that the remaining 10 will survive,\u201d Glover said.<\/p>\n
The Sloth Conservation Foundation is pushing to ban imports of wild-caught sloths into the United States. PETA has also announced a lawsuit.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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