Fifty-seven sloths recently sadly passed away in Florida. Now, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing connected to the deaths of the sloths intended for a failed Orlando tourist attraction.<\/p>\n
The agency released its 44-page final investigative report<\/a> Wednesday, Aug. 19, after reviewing veterinary records, inspection reports and diagnostic findings. Investigators also interviewed more than 20 people during the three-month inquiry.<\/p>\n Sloth World was promoted as an interactive attraction where visitors could see sloths inside a simulated rainforest. It never opened, and its remaining wildlife permits were eventually relinquished.<\/p>\n Investigators concluded that the deaths were likely caused by a combination of disease, transportation stress, nutritional problems and other medical conditions rather than criminal activity or improper care.<\/p>\n The deaths involved multiple shipments of Sloths<\/p>\n Embedded media follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.<\/p>\n Earlier Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission records documented 21 deaths after a breaker interrupted power to space heaters during cold weather at an Orlando warehouse.<\/p>\n Another shipment arrived from Peru in February 2025 with two sloths already dead. Eight others reportedly arrived emaciated and in poor health before also dying.<\/p>\n Eight rescued sloths remain at a Florida zoo<\/p>\n Thirteen surviving sloths were transferred to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in April. Several arrived underweight, dehydrated and suffering from gastrointestinal problems.<\/p>\n Five later died despite receiving veterinary treatment. The zoo reported in its most recent public update<\/a> that the remaining eight were stable and receiving care in an isolated area behind the scenes. The survivors are named Chewy, Dolce, Phantom, Blackberry, Hazel, Leeloo, Mojo Jojo and Pearl.<\/p>\n Florida changed its sloth-import rules<\/p>\n Florida now requires anyone importing a sloth to obtain a separate Wildlife Importation Permit<\/a> before the animal enters the state. The free permit covers one importation and remains valid for 45 days.<\/p>\n Although the sheriff’s office closed its investigation, the case was referred to the State Attorney’s Office for independent review. Prosecutors have not announced a final decision.<\/p>\n The Sloth Protection Alliance has questioned the sheriff’s conclusion, arguing that the report still documents environmental failures, severe illness and concerns about how the animals were housed and cared for.<\/p>\n