Press Release | Sloth World Orlando to Close After 31 Sloth Deaths; Survivors Transferred to AZA Care
Summary: Closure follows a January 2026 campaign by The Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute raising concerns over wild-caught sourcing and animal welfare
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2026
Costa Rica
Since January 2026, we, The Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo) and The Sloth Institute (TSI), non-profit organizations based in Costa Rica, have been running a campaign regarding Sloth World Orlando, a facility in Florida that has imported at least 69 wild-caught sloths for display in a proposed “Slotharium” exhibit.
Following the initial press release, we received reports from former employees raising concerns about the welfare of the animals. As these claims could not be independently verified at the time, we worked with investigative journalists to better understand the situation at Sloth World Orlando.
Last week, Inside Climate News published findings based on official records indicating that at least 31 sloths had died at the facility prior to its opening.
Today, we can share an important update.
Sloth World has surrendered the remaining surviving sloths and will be closing permanently. The 13 surviving animals have been transferred to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Garden and are now under the management of the AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP), where they will receive veterinary treatment. The SSP will determine long-term placement for many of these animals at other AZA-accredited facilities, with the expectation that some will remain at the Zoo.
These sloths cannot be returned to the wild. Many are in compromised health, the risks associated with transport are significant, and their exact origins are unknown, creating serious genetic risks to wild populations. Sloths are long-lived animals, with lifespans of over 50 years, meaning these individuals now face a lifetime in human care.
“Sloth World is an egregious example of the damaging effects of the sloth trade on the welfare and conservation of sloths, but every individual taken from the wild for entertainment is a tragedy. We won’t rest until they’re all safe.”
Based on publicly available figures, approximately 24 sloths remain unaccounted for, highlighting serious concerns about reporting, oversight, and transparency. While we are relieved that Sloth World will not open its doors or profit from the suffering of these animals, significant questions remain.
“There have still been no legal consequences for the facility’s owner, despite the suffering caused by his actions. It should not take 31 confirmed deaths and a campaign run by two foreign non-profit organizations for action to be taken. Where were the laws to protect these animals? Why did Sloth World not have to declare the deaths of the sloths in their care? Why was all of this legally able to happen?”
Sloth World is not an isolated case - it is part of a much larger problem.
The legal trade in wild sloths, and their exploitation for profit continues to exist due to gaps in regulation and enforcement, both in the US and in source countries such as Peru and Guyana. This is why our fight will continue. We will not stop until we are sure that this can and will never happen again, and we want the perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions, the loss of life they caused, and the damage they have inflicted on the ecosystems the sloths were taken from.
We will continue our work to:
End the commercial exploitation of wild sloths
Close the legal loopholes that allow this trade to happen
Ensure those responsible are held accountable
We ask for your continued support as we work to make sure this never happens again.
Alongside the grief, there is also real gratitude. The global response to this campaign has been a powerful reminder that collective action works. Every person who helped by sharing information and speaking out played a role in this, and helped save the lives of the sloths who survived.
We are also grateful to the journalists and media outlets who investigated this story and helped bring it to light, particularly Katie Surma at Inside Climate News and Hannah Mackenzie at FOX 35 Orlando.
About the Sloth Conservation Foundation
The Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo) is a non-profit organization based in Costa Rica working to protect sloths through scientific research, habitat restoration, community programs, and policy advocacy. SloCo collaborates with universities, governments, Indigenous groups, and international partners to safeguard sloths across their natural range.
About The Sloth Institute
The Sloth Institute (TSI) is a licensed non-profit organization based in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. TSI advances sloth conservation and welfare through rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education, while leading innovative conservation initiatives, including strategic reforestation and habitat connectivity programs. TSI collaborates with governments, accredited wildlife institutions, universities, and conservation professionals to protect sloths and their habitats worldwide.
Media Contacts:
SloCo: Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, contact@slothconservation.org, www.slothconservation.org
TSI: Sam Trull, sam@theslothinstitute.org, www.theslothinstitute.org
For background and context, read our full blog on Sloth World Orlando here.
Press Release January 21 | Sloth Conservation Organizations Warn Against U.S. Attraction Sourcing Wild-Caught Sloths for Commercial Entertainment