The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued a 60-day executive order halting foreign sloth imports following dozens of animal deaths in Orlando [2].
The order follows reports that a planned tourist attraction, known as "Sloth World," failed to provide basic survival conditions for imported animals. The incident highlights critical gaps in the oversight of exotic animal imports and the temporary housing of wildlife before public openings.
Investigations revealed that sloths were kept in a cold, unheated warehouse that lacked running water [1, 3]. The animals were left without a caretaker presence, and heating systems failed, creating an environment the tropical mammals could not survive [1, 2, 3].
Reports on the scale of the loss vary. One report said 31 sloths died [1], while other sources indicated over 50 [2] and as many as 55 animals died [3] before the attraction ever opened to the public.
Surviving sloths were transferred to the Central Florida Zoo on April 24, 2026 [2]. The FWC is continuing to investigate the operators of the facility to determine the exact cause of the systemic failures.
The 60-day suspension on imports serves as a regulatory freeze while the state assesses whether existing permits for exotic wildlife are being managed with adequate veterinary and environmental safeguards [2].
“More than 50 sloths died before the attraction opened”
This regulatory action signals a shift toward stricter enforcement of animal welfare standards for private exotic imports in Florida. By freezing imports, the FWC is prioritizing the prevention of further animal loss over the commercial interests of new tourist attractions, likely leading to more rigorous pre-opening inspections for wildlife facilities.
