Advocates demand 5 changes from FWC after Sloth World sloth deaths
Florida urged to strengthen sloth protections after deaths tied to attraction
Animal welfare advocates and a Central Florida lawmaker are urging state wildlife regulators to adopt stricter protections for sloths following the deaths of dozens of animals tied to a failed Orlando attraction.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani and the Sloth Protection Alliance have sent a five-point list of recommended changes to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) with the goal of limiting sloth imports into the state, following the deaths of more than 50 sloths intended for the now-defunct Sloth World Orlando attraction.
A months-long FOX 35 investigation discovered that dozens of sloths were imported to Florida and stored in unpermitted, makeshift warehouses in Orange County between December 2024 and March 2026. A majority of those sloths died. Thirteen were rescued and brought to the Central Florida Zoo, where all were underweight, malnourished, and suffering from digestive issues (four of the most critical sloths died).
The 5-point proposal
What we know:
Here are the changes that the Sloth Protection Alliance want to see:
- A permanent ban on the importation of wild-caught sloths into Florida (some exceptions for AZA-accredited facilities)
- Create a new category for sloths to move sloths to a higher classification than Class III
- Mandate immediate reporting of sloth deaths, transfers, sales, and births to FWC
- Ban direct-contact "Sloth Encounter" experiences
- Close loophole classifying sloths born from imported, pregnant females as "captive bred."
Read the report
The other side:
A spokesperson for FWC told FOX 35: "We’ve received the recommendations, and staff are reviewing them."
FWC issues temporary ban after FOX 35's investigation
After FOX 35's investigation and numerous reports, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission issued a temporary 59-day ban on the importation of sloths. However, the FWC put the blame for the sloth deaths solely on those affiliated with the failed Sloth World project.
"To be clear, this very unfortunate situation resulted from one facility, Sloth World, and they're no longer licensed, and it is not a widespread issue. The staffs on it, we look to working with all of the industry partners moving forward to make sure we get these rules for the well-keeping of sloths," said FWC Executive Direct Roger A. Young.
As FOX 35 reported, the FWC was made aware of some of the sloth deaths and sloth imports as early as August 2025. However, no formal citations or violations were issued. FWC also did not alert Orange County to where the sloths were, which turned out to be housed in a warehouse that was permitted years earlier to house vehicles, not wildlife, let alone sloths.
The temporary ban is scheduled to expire on July 10. It's not yet known if that ban will be extended.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Sam Trull, co-founder of the Sloth Protection Alliance, Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, who along with Tull lead sloth conservation organizations in Costa Rica, and State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.