Another sloth from troubled Florida tourist attraction dies
· Toronto Sun
Another sloth who was taken of a central Florida Zoo has died out of a group given up by a yet-to-open tourist attraction facing scrutiny for the deaths of more than 30 other sloths imported from Guyana and Peru.
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Habanero, an adult male sloth, was put to sleep at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens . He was taken there for rehabilitation with 12 other sloths surrendered by Sloth World , a local tourist attraction that never opened, zoo officials said. Another sloth, Bandit, died last week after it was transferred to the zoo.
“When the sloths arrived, all were underweight and are being treated for gastrointestinal (GI) issues, requiring intensive, specialized care,” the zoo said in a statement. “Habanero initially showed encouraging signs of stabilization, including eating and drinking regularly under the close supervision of the zoo’s veterinary and animal care teams. In recent days, however, his condition worsened.”
Probe underway
Local and state authorities are currently investigating Sloth World’s treatment of the animals when it had them. Reports by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission revealed 31 deaths between December 2024 and February 2025.
The wildlife agency said 21 sloths imported from Guyana died at a facility called Sanctuary World Imports in December 2024 when temperatures dropped into the 40-to-55 F (4.4 to 12.8 C ) range. Sloths are unable to regulate their body temperature as well as other mammals and do best in the 68-to-85 F (20 to 30 C range. The tourist attraction later ordered 10 sloths from Peru, which arrived in February 2025. Two were dead on arrival. The rest appeared emaciated and died of what a report called “poor health issues,” according to the state agency’s report.
Currently, the Central Florida Zoo is taking donations to help rehabilitate the remaining sloths.
– With files from The Associated Press