Second Sloth Dies at Central Florida Zoo After Transfer From Orlando’s Sloth World
A second sloth transferred from Orlando’s troubled Sloth World has died while receiving care at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford.
The zoo said Habanero, an adult male sloth, was euthanized Saturday after his condition declined following a period of critical illness. He had initially shown signs of stabilization, including eating and drinking under close veterinary supervision, but worsened in recent days, according to the zoo.
Habanero was one of 13 two-toed sloths the zoo accepted from Sloth World, a planned Orlando tourist attraction that never opened. Another sloth, Bandit, died last week after arriving in the most critical condition.
The zoo said all of the sloths arrived underweight and are being treated for gastrointestinal issues that require intensive, specialized care. Eleven sloths remain in the zoo’s care, with two still in guarded condition.
The latest death adds urgency to a widening Central Florida animal-welfare case. The Associated Press reported that Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspection reports showed 31 sloth deaths between December 2024 and February 2025. The animals had been imported from Guyana and Peru for the planned attraction.
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Florida officials are now pursuing a criminal investigation into the treatment of the animals. WESH reported that Attorney General James Uthmeier assigned a statewide prosecutor to assist the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office.
The plain-English consequence is this: investigators are no longer looking only at a failed tourist attraction. They are examining whether animal deaths tied to Sloth World could lead to criminal accountability or changes in how Florida oversees exotic animal imports and attractions.
For now, the surviving sloths remain behind the scenes at the Sanford zoo during a quarantine and rehabilitation period. The zoo has said some of the animals may require lifelong human care.
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