Press Conference | Scientists and conservation organizations call for action on the commercial sloth trade in the United States
On May 6 in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Rebecca Cliffe from The Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo) and Sam Trull from The Sloth Institute (TSI) joined state and federal offices, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss the growing concerns surrounding the commercial trade and use of sloths in the United States.
The meetings and press conference come after months of investigations, public concern, and media coverage surrounding Sloth World Orlando, a now-closed animal attraction linked to the deaths of more than 50 sloths.
Read More: What is Sloth World Orlando and The Slotharium
As experts in sloth research, conservation, rehabilitation, and welfare, Dr. Rebecca Cliffe and Sam Trull traveled to Orlando to provide scientific and field-based insight into why sloths are fundamentally unsuitable for commercial captive environments, particularly those involving tourist encounters and high levels of human exposure.
“One of the things that I think is really important to say here is that we often avoid using words like scared or frightened when we talk about animals, because there is this idea that those emotions are somehow uniquely human — but science has shown us again and again that that is not true, and that animals, including sloths, experience these same feelings.
They feel scared when they are pulled from the trees. They feel frightened when they are put in a crate and put on an aeroplane.
And one of the most important things to understand about sloths is that they do not have a strong fight-or-flight response. When a sloth is scared or frightened, it internalises that stress and will suffer in silence until it is too late.
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“The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has stated that they found no evidence of violations - but under Florida law, it is a criminal offence to subject animals to unnecessary suffering.
Placing highly sensitive animals into a warehouse with no electricity, no heat, and no running water resulted in suffering that was predictable, visible, and entirely preventable. I struggle to understand how that does not constitute a violation.
And if this does not meet the threshold for suffering under the law, then we have to ask whether that threshold is set far too low.”
“At the Sloth Conservation Foundation, and alongside our partners at The Sloth Institute, we feel very strongly that there needs to be accountability for what has happened here — and just as importantly, we need to make sure that this never happens again.
From a scientific standpoint, we already know that there is no ethical, safe, or justifiable reason to continue taking sloths from the wild — particularly when the only beneficiaries are those profiting from their exploitation.
For that reason, we are calling for a ban on the import of wild-caught sloths into the United States for commercial purposes and private ownership, and we will continue to push for that change for as long as it takes.
We are also calling for stronger protections more broadly — including a review of how sloths are currently classified, an end to hands-on encounter experiences, and full transparency when animals die in these facilities.”
Watch the full Press Conference with Sam Trull, Rep Anna Eskamani, Commiciones Nicole Wilson, and Commisioner Mike Scott below:
Watch the press conference with SloCo and TSI alongside Central Florida Zoo CEO Richard Glover, Rep. Anna Eskamani, and Congressman Maxwell Frost below
Why Are Sloths Unsuitable for Commercial Tourist Attractions?
Sloths are highly specialized wild animals.
Unlike domesticated species, sloths evolved to survive in stable rainforest canopies with minimal disturbance, highly specific diets, and low-energy lifestyles.
Scientific research and field experience consistently show that sloths are extremely sensitive to:
chronic stress
environmental changes
improper diet
handling and excessive human interaction
artificial captive environments
transport and repeated disturbance
Commercial attractions often place sloths in environments that are fundamentally different from the conditions they evolved to survive in.
High-traffic facilities, tourist encounters, artificial lighting, noise, transportation, and constant human exposure can create chronic stress that negatively impacts their health and welfare.
According to experts, this is not simply a matter of improving care standards. The biological needs of sloths are fundamentally incompatible with the commercial model under which these animals are frequently imported, displayed, and used.
A New Coalition to Address the Commercial Sloth Trade
Following months of behind-the-scenes work, The Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute are now formally launching an alliance focused on ending the import of sloths into the United States for commercial exhibition, encounters, and for-profit display.
The coalition will work directly with policymakers, agencies, scientists, and other organizations to:
advance evidence-based policy solutions
provide scientific and technical expertise
raise awareness about the realities of the commercial sloth trade
support legislation and regulatory reform
Why This Matters
The tragedy surrounding Sloth World Orlando has brought visibility to a much broader issue.
As long as the commercial demand for sloths continues, animals will continue to be removed from their ecosystems, transported internationally, and placed into environments that fail to meet their biological needs.
For organizations like SloCo and TSI, this moment represents an opportunity to move beyond awareness and toward lasting policy change.
The deaths of these sloths must lead to a larger conversation about wildlife trade, animal welfare, and the future of sloths in the United States.
Support the Work
Changing policy takes time, collaboration, and sustained effort.
If you would like to support this work, you can help by:
sharing this article
following The Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute
supporting conservation and policy efforts
helping raise awareness about the realities of the commercial sloth trade
This is only the beginning of a much longer road.
But meaningful change starts with visibility, science, and action.
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