at least 55 sloths<\/a> have died in connection with the facility. <\/p>\nThe Central Florida Zoo took in 13 of the surviving animals, three of which have since passed away.<\/p>\n
Among the survivors is Mr. Ginger, the smallest and youngest sloth in the group. The Central Florida Zoo shared an update Friday confirming he remains in critical condition and intensive care, but zoo staff couldn\u2019t resist sharing a few photos of the tiny fighter.<\/p>\n
In one photo, Mr. Ginger basks in the Florida sunshine on a good day. In another, he sits patiently on a scale while veterinarians check his weight. In a third, he investigates a green bean between naps, nearly blending in with his plush toys.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Central Florida and beyond, for all of your support,\u201d the zoo wrote in its update.<\/p>\n
Sanford Main Street board member Patty Mahany says the situation struck a personal chord.<\/p>\n
\u201cWild animals need to stay in the wild,\u201d Mahany said. \u201cIf they\u2019re going to come out of the wild, they need to come to the most supreme, accredited zoos. Sloth World was a bad idea from the get-go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahany was among the first to ask what the Sanford community could do to help. She reached out to Paul Williams, owner of West End Trading Company and a well-known local fundraiser, with a simple question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018Paul, how can we raise some money for this? What can we do?\u201d Mahany recalled. \u201cAnd he came up with this idea immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within days, Williams designed a T-shirt bearing the slogan \u201cHelp Us Hang In There\u201d \u2014 featuring the Central Florida Zoo\u2019s official logo \u2014 and the Sanford Main Street initiative was born. The entire effort, from concept to product, came together in less than a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe came up with a great design, we got with the zoo, they approved everything,\u201d Mahany said. \u201cThis is the official zoo logo, and we just started rolling from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shirts, priced at $35 in unisex sizes, are available at the Sanford Welcome Center at 230 E. First St. in downtown Sanford. <\/p>\n
A second run of shirts \u2014 including youth sizes \u2014 is expected to arrive Friday afternoon after the first batch of 100 sold out quickly. Sanford Main Street is also working to make the shirts available for shipping.<\/p>\n
Mahany was clear that buyers can feel confident their money is going directly to sloth care. Sanford Main Street has a written contract with the zoo guaranteeing that the proceeds from shirt sales go toward the animals\u2019 medical care and rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you buy this shirt, it\u2019s going to the right place \u2014 it\u2019s going to the zoo,\u201d Mahany said.<\/p>\n
She also issued a warning to would-be supporters about unauthorized shirt sellers who have not contacted the zoo, have not received approval, and have not committed to donating proceeds.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople need to be careful when they make donations,\u201d Mahany said. \u201cThey need to donate directly to the zoo, or they need to buy the shirt from us because we have a contract in writing with the zoo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahany said the financial burden on the Central Florida Zoo has been significant. In addition to existing staff working extended hours, the zoo has brought in outside veterinarians and sloth experts \u2014 including specialists flown in from South America \u2014 to help care for the surviving animals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost like a mass casualty,\u201d Mahany said. \u201cThe veterinary care is very expensive. The staffing, the flights in and out of South America \u2014 they\u2019re doing everything they can do to save these sloths and give them the life that they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahany added that even those who cannot afford to buy a shirt can still support the zoo in meaningful ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust taking your child to the zoo for the summer, taking your kid out there for the day \u2014 ticket money helps them just equally,\u201d she said. \u201cThink about these for little gifts. And if you can\u2019t do anything else, just keep a good thought for the zoo, for the staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
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