Florida hits pause on sloth imports after more than 50 deaths

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued a 60‑day order on Thursday, May 14, suspending the importation of sloths into the state from outside the U.S. The directive, signed by Executive Director Roger Young, also freezes the issuance of captive wildlife permits required to handle sloths.

The action follows the deaths of more than 50 sloths intended for the now‑bankrupt Sloth World attraction in Orlando. Necropsy reports revealed systemic viral infections, including gammaherpesvirus and a virus related to Changuinola virus, along with neurological, respiratory, and gastrointestinal disease.

Key Details

• Effective period: Until July 11, 2026
• Reason: Sloths’ unique physiology makes them highly vulnerable to stress and poor husbandry practices
• Classification: Sloths are considered Class III wildlife (non‑native, non‑domesticated species requiring minimal oversight)
• Current oversight gap: No rules requiring notification of illness or death, only escapes or bite incidents
• Survivors: Remaining sloths relocated to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford

Legislative Response

Orlando Rep. Anna Eskamani and U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost have pressed FWC to strengthen regulations, arguing that current rules “do not do enough” to protect sensitive species. Eskamani emphasized that sloths are overwhelmingly taken from the wild for commercial purposes, making them especially fragile compared to other Class III animals.

Quick Facts

This pause gives Florida time to reassess exotic animal regulations and could set precedent for how other fragile species are managed in captivity.

Florida hits pause on sloth imports after more than 50 deaths

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