SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 The Central Florida Zoo is extending the quarantine period for the rescued sloths connected to Sloth World as the animals continue recovering from the conditions they arrived in one month ago.<\/p>\n
Zoo officials now say that period will be extended to at least 90 days to continue monitoring the surviving animals\u2019 health.<\/p>\n
The zoo originally placed the 13 sloths under a 30-day quarantine after taking them in from Sloth World, the now-bankrupt roadside attraction. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are expecting to have them all in quarantine for at least 90 days,\u201d Central Florida Zoo CEO Richard Glover said. \u201cWe are just reaching the point where some of the food that we gave them is starting to be adjusted because their digestive system is so slow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Glover said the sloths are still transitioning off the diet they were fed while at Sloth World.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019re in a period now where they\u2019re still getting the last bits of what they had in Sloth World out of their system and transferring onto the diet they should be on here,\u201d Glover said.<\/p>\n
Of the 13 sloths originally brought to the zoo, nine remain alive.<\/p>\n
Over the last month, Bandit, Habanero, Dumpling and the youngest sloth in the group, 3-month-old Mr. Ginger, have died because of the conditions they were in when they arrived, according to zoo officials.<\/p>\n
However, the zoo says there are signs of improvement among the remaining sloths.<\/p>\n
Glover said two sloths, Chewie and Dolce, are now officially out of critical condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are starting to see some personalities come out, and that\u2019s a good sign that they\u2019re more comfortable in their environment,\u201d Glover said.<\/p>\n
News 6 has been covering the closure of Sloth World and the investigation surrounding the organization for weeks.<\/p>\n
Sloth World and the individuals once associated with it are now under investigation after reports showed 52 sloths died while under its care.<\/p>\n
Glover told News 6 that Sloth World President Ben Agresta signed over the remaining 13 sloths to the zoo after reports about the deaths became public.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe business doesn\u2019t survive without the animals, but they had people feeding them the wrong thing because that\u2019s the advice they were getting,\u201d Glover said. \u201cDog and cat vets aren\u2019t going to know what to feed a sloth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, State Representative Anna Eskamani said lawmakers are continuing to push for policy changes related to exotic animal ownership in Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are pushing for federal policy changes as we continue on our path with not only asking FWC to make the temporary ban a permanent ban, but we are also working towards crafting policy changes for the class three license program specifically for sensitive species at the state level,\u201d Eskamani said.<\/p>\n
Zoo officials have also placed signs outside the entrance featuring some of the rescued sloths as community support continues growing. <\/p>\n
Eskamani also told News 6 that $500,000 in funding has been added to the proposed state budget for the Central Florida Zoo. The state budget is expected to be approved by the end of the week.<\/p>\n
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