Fifth Rescued Sloth Dies as Florida Considers Major Reforms

The shocking deaths of more than 50 wild-caught sloths connected to the failed Orlando attraction Sloth World continue to mount.

This month, Willow, one of 13 surviving sloths rescued from a makeshift warehouse and transferred to the Central Florida Zoo for emergency care, died after her condition steadily declined. Her death follows those of Bandit, Habanero, Dumpling, and Mr. Ginger, bringing the total number of sloth deaths linked to Sloth World to 57. According to the Central Florida Zoo, all 13 rescued sloths arrived suffering from serious health issues including dehydration, malnutrition, and digestive problems, and despite the best efforts of their care teams, none of the surviving sloths are considered fully out of the woods.

As these animals continue to succumb to the conditions they suffered before being rescued, there is at least some hope that their deaths may not be in vain.

In response to the Sloth World tragedy, Florida lawmakers and the Sloth Protection Alliance — a coalition made up of the Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute — have submitted a five-point reform package to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission aimed at strengthening protections for sloths across the state.

According to State Representative Anna Eskamani, who helped lead the effort, "The Sloth World deaths weren't a one-off failure — they were a warning about a system that simply isn't built to protect these animals."

The proposed reforms would prohibit the import of wild-caught sloths, with limited exceptions for accredited zoos participating in conservation programs. They would also either move sloths into a higher regulatory classification that better reflects their complex care needs or create a new category specifically for sloths. Additional proposals include requiring the reporting of all sloth births, deaths, transfers, and sales; prohibiting hands-on "sloth encounter" experiences; and closing a loophole that currently allows the offspring of wild-caught sloths to be marketed as captive-bred.

As part of the review process, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has already announced a temporary pause on sloth imports and will establish a task force to evaluate the proposed reforms and develop recommendations before the end of the year.

The suffering endured by Willow, Bandit, Habanero, Dumpling, Mr. Ginger, and the dozens of other sloths caught up in the Sloth World tragedy should never have happened. These animals were taken from the wild, transported across continents, and exploited for entertainment, only to die far from the rainforest homes where they belonged.

But because thousands of people refused to look away, this tragedy is now driving an important conversation about how sloths are imported, displayed, and protected in the United States. More than 4,000 members of the Species Unite community have already spoken up for these gentle animals, and this momentum shows that your voices are being heard.

We will continue following this case closely and pushing for the strongest possible protections until the loopholes that allowed this tragedy to occur are finally closed for good.