The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens determined the animals were "dehydrated" upon their arrival, and one animal needed critical care

A planned Orlando attraction called Sloth World will not open following dozens of animal deaths, conservation groups said, as its 13 remaining sloths were placed in the care of animal experts at

The 31 deaths occurred between December 2024 and February 2025, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said in a report recently released. The majority of the sloths died in an unheated warehouse while awaiting transfer to the still unopened Sloth World exhibit, the report said.

Sloth World's website claims it's the world's only "slothnarium" and is designed as a "protected, research-informed habitat"

The warehouse on International Drive where 31 sloths intended for Sloth World Orlando reportedly died was not permitted to have animals or wildlife of any kind, FOX 35 has learned.

13 surviving sloths from Sloth World delivered to Central Florida Zoo in Sanford

While humans wouldn’t be very happy to find that organisms were growing on their skin, particularly fungi, algae, and insects, it works out pretty well for sloths. Sloths may be hosting entire ecosystems in their thick, dense fur, and algae growth on ...