Florida is tightening permit requirements for those who want to import sloths into the state, an action spurred by controversy over Sloth World, a never-opened Orange County attraction authorities say is responsible for the death of at least 55 of the tree-dwelling mammals.
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission temporarily banned most sloth imports in May following outcry over the deaths at facilities run by the planned International Drive tourist attraction.
The agency announced Friday that once that ban lifts on July 10, “blanket import permits” will no longer apply to sloths. Instead, those who want to import sloths — which are native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America — will have to apply for a one-time-use “wildlife importation permit” before bringing them into the state. That type of permit means transport cages and facilities are subject to possible inspection by FWC.
FWC did not respond to a request for comment. Advocates pushing for Florida law changes to prevent future sloth abuse and death argue more still needs to be done.
But Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said the new permit rules could have prevented the Sloth World deaths, had the attraction’s facilities been inspected before animals arrived. She’s among those who want the Florida law modified.
“In the context of Sloth World, that would have at least provided a pause because, remember, sloths came into Florida and Orlando, and there was no facility prepared for that,” she said.
Many sloths intended for display at Sloth World languished and died in small cages inside an unheated warehouse, while others succumbed to separate health issues from Dec. 2024 to Feb. 2025, according to an FWC incident report. Thirteen surviving animals were transferred to the Central Florida Zoo, suffering from malnutrition and other critical conditions. Five have since died, despite veterinary care, the zoo reported.
Sloth World was initially slated to open its doors in February — but never did. Instead, the business and its owners became embroiled in controversy over the deaths of dozens of sloths, first reported by Inside Climate News.
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“The new permit change is a step in the right direction in trying to keep anything like what happened with Sloth World from happening again,” wrote Richard Glover, CEO of the zoo, in an emailed statement. “Only organizations with professionals trained and experienced in caring for sloths and other wildlife should be allowed to house them, and only in habitats and environments sufficient and proper for their well-being.”
Glover also called for sloths to be further reclassified so they can’t be kept as pets in the state.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed last month the kick off of a criminal probe into Sloth World, led by the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office.
While FWC’s permit changes are helpful, the best solution is a permanent ban on wild-caught sloth imports into the country, wrote Sam Trull, executive director and co-founder of the Sloth Institute, in an emailed statement.
The institute’s experts are among those pushing for Florida to ban the import of sloths taken from the wild.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an animal rights group, helped advocate for the investigation into Sloth World. The new permit requirement will increase monitoring, but loopholes still exist, said Cydnee Bence, counsel at the PETA Foundation’s captive animal law enforcement division.
“Make no mistake, this permit change won’t prevent greedy roadside zoos from continuing to exploit and warehouse sloths in unnatural conditions,” Bence said.
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