The FWC has suspended the importation of sloths for 60 days while lawmakers push for a criminal probe into the “Sloth World” operators.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida wildlife officials have temporarily halted the foreign importation of sloths after plans for a “Sloth World” attraction in Orlando led to the deaths of more than 50 of them.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order on Wednesday, suspending imports of sloths from foreign points of entry for 60 days.
FWC says the action was taken “due to the recent deaths of multiple sloths with systemic disease processes recently imported into the United States and held in captivity in Florida.”
The order is referencing an investigation into dozens of sloths brought to Florida from Guyana and Peru and held at a facility on International Drive ahead of the opening of a planned tourist attraction.
“More than 50 wild sloths died at the so-called ‘Sloth World’ facility in Orange County under appalling conditions: no stable heat, inadequate enclosures, and, at times, no running water or electricity,” State Rep. Anna Eskamani said in a statement.
Inspection reports by the FWC revealed that 31 of those sloths died between December 2024 and February 2025. Most of the animals died when the temperature inside the facility dropped into the 40 to 55 degree F range, while others died from unspecified “poor health issues,” according to a state report.
“Sloth World” transferred several surviving sloths to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens for rehabilitation on April 24. Three have since died from the harm they suffered before rescue, Eskamani added.
According to the zoo, necropsy reports revealed that all three of those sloths — named Bandit, Habanero and Dumpling — died from emaciation.
Several of the sloths, including Mr. Ginger, the smallest and youngest sloth in the group, remain in critical condition.
“We continue to treat the remaining sloths with the highest level of care and hope for the best results,” the zoo wrote.
Rep. Eskami says she’s working with the FWC, the Sloth Institute and the Sloth Conservation Foundation to push for a full criminal probe into the “Sloth World” operators.
She also says she’s working to reform the state permitting system for sloths “that made this tragedy possible in the first place.”