The story of Sloth World has been one of the most heartbreaking animal welfare narratives to come out of Central Florida in recent memory, unfolding in real time for months and getting worse before it gets better. What began as the collapse of a planned International Drive attraction into bankruptcy revealed something far more disturbing underneath: a warehouse off International Drive in Orange County where dozens of sloths imported from Guyana and Peru were being kept in conditions that were, by any reasonable measure, incompatible with their survival. No heat. No running water. No windows. Extension cords running space heaters from a different building. A fuse tripped in the cold, leaving the animals without warmth overnight and with nobody present to fix it.By the time the public became fully aware of what had happened at Sloth World, the death toll was already staggering. Fifty-six sloths have now died since December 2024, a number that includes animals that perished before anyone outside the facility and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission knew the situation existed. FWC had been aware of the deaths as early as August 2025, following an unannounced inspection. Inspectors found sloths being actively held in those conditions, issued a verbal warning about two cage sizes, and left without violations, citations, or charges, concluding the care did not meet the legal definition of animal cruelty.The sloths kept dying.Thirteen survivors were rescued from the Orange County warehouse and brought to the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford on April 24. Four of those thirteen, the ones considered most critical upon arrival, have now died. Bandit. Habanero. Dumpling. And now Mr. Ginger, the youngest and smallest of all the rescued sloths, was humanely euthanized on Friday, May 15, after weeks of intensive care that could not overcome the damage done before he ever arrived at the zoo.Mr. Ginger was estimated to be four to six months old. He was hand-fed every few hours. He spent much of his time in an incubator to help regulate his body temperature because he could not do it reliably on his own. The Central Florida Zoo described him as a fighter who held on despite the odds. Their veterinary team provided care around the clock and made every effort to give him a chance at survival. His condition did not improve, and the decision to humanely euthanize him was made on Friday afternoon.Credit: Central Florida ZooCentral Florida Zoo CEO Richard Glover expressed heartbreak over the loss and acknowledged that the animal care and veterinary teams had dedicated countless hours to Mr. Ginger since his arrival. The cause of death for the first three sloths, Bandit, Habanero, and Dumpling, was listed as emaciation following necropsies, attributed to their previous care at Sloth World. Mr. Ginger’s cause has not yet been formally detailed beyond the severity of his condition upon arrival.What Florida Just DidThe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order this week temporarily banning the import of sloths into Florida, effective May 13 and running until at least July 10. The ban requires anyone or any facility currently holding sloths in Florida to report severe illness to the FWC. The commission is also reviewing its Class III license requirements, which sloths fall under, noting that current rules do not require sloth importers to notify FWC of sloth deaths, only bites or escapes.FWC Director Roger A. Young described the situation to commissioners as one facility dealing with an intestinal infection that resulted in severe and, in many cases, fatal effects, characterizing it as not a widespread issue. Investigators determined the sloths had contracted an intestinal infection, and necropsy reports and internal company emails reviewed by Inside Climate News indicate that a novel two-toed sloth gammaherpesvirus was spreading through the warehouse.Credit: Central Florida ZooThe criminal investigation into Sloth World continues. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it has opened an investigation at the request of the State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court and the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated that prosecutors from his office are participating in an ongoing criminal investigation into the sloth deaths and the circumstances behind the animals’ seizure from the wild. No charges have been filed. OCSO has not confirmed whether anyone associated with Sloth World has been interviewed.What Florida Representative Anna Eskamani SaidFlorida Representative Anna Eskamani released a statement after Mr. Ginger’s death that captured the full weight of what this situation represents. She described Sloth World as a reckless, profit-driven sideshow that cost the lives of 56 wild sloths before collapsing into bankruptcy, and called the animals sentient and vulnerable creatures who were exploited for profit. She committed to continuing to push for the criminal investigation and for long-term policy change through the FWC so that this situation cannot repeat itself.FWC has formed a task force to overhaul exotic animal permit rules following meetings with Eskamani, The Sloth Institute, and the Sloth Conservation Foundation. Representatives from both conservation organizations traveled from Costa Rica to meet with Florida officials and address stronger protections for sloths.The Nine Remaining SlothsThe Central Florida Zoo is continuing to provide around-the-clock care for the nine sloths still alive. Several remain in critical condition. CEO Richard Glover has said previously that there is no guarantee any of the sloths will ultimately survive, noting that bloodwork has shown the animals were fed the wrong diet for a long time, with critical effects on their bodies. The names of the remaining nine have not been released.Credit: Central Florida ZooMr. Ginger was four to six months old. He should have been in a rainforest. He spent the last weeks of his life in an incubator at a Central Florida zoo, being hand-fed every few hours by people who were fighting to save him. They could not. Fifty-six sloths are gone. Nine are fighting. Florida just banned sloth imports. The investigation is open. The charges have not come.The post Another Devastating Loss for Sloth World Survivors as Florida Finally Takes Action appeared first on Inside the Magic.