The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order to suspend imports of sloths from foreign points of entry for 60 days following the deaths of dozens of sloths.
Orlando’s Sloth World, touted as the “world’s first Slotharium,” shut down ahead of its planned opening after news broke that over 50 sloths died while in its care or while en route to its facility.
The attraction marketed itself as conservation-focused, with the website archives stating that its tickets “directly fund rescue work in South America, supplies for local rehab centers, and scientific studies that help the world better understand sloth health and behavior.”
Fifty-five sloths have died so far, and ten surviving sloths are getting care at a local zoo.
According to My New 13, FWC says it will work with representatives, stakeholders and wildlife officials to examine the rules and regulations under the Class III licenses, which regulate the possession, sale and exhibition of a broad category of animals that are not domestic, including sloths.
Where was Sloth World located? When was it supposed to open?
Sloth World was located along Orlando’s popular International Drive.
It’s unclear when the Sloth World was slated to open, with archives of its website stating it would open sometime during 2026. As of April 27, its website was defunct, with all information removed.
What happened to the sloths at Sloth World?
An August 2025 Captive Wildlife Report by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says that a total of 31 sloths died, including 21 from Guyana, that a former Sloth World operator said suffered from “cold stun.”
Of 10 other sloths that came from Peru, two were dead on arrival, and eight were emaciated. They eventually died because of “poor health conditions,” according to the report.
Earlier this month, it was reported that an additional 21 sloths had died. Click Orlando shared that an additional report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services revealed many of these sloths died from gastrointestinal or stomach-related issues.
The 13 remaining sloths were placed in the care of animal experts at Central Florida Zoo & Biological Gardens in Sanford, according to a press release. However, three sloths that were in critical condition have since died.
Sloth Conservation Foundation has said the surviving sloths can never be released back into the wild and now require a lifetime in human care at accredited Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) facilities.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: FWC suspends imports of sloths following Sloth World controversy
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
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