The updates from the Central Florida Zoo on the Sloth World sloths have not gotten easier to read. Since thirteen sloths were rescued from an Orange County warehouse on April 24 and brought to the zoo, four of them have died. The latest is Mr. Ginger, the youngest and smallest of the group, who was humanely euthanized on Friday, May 15, after weeks of care that could not undo what was done to him before he ever arrived.
He was estimated to be four to six months old. He should have been in a rainforest.
The Sloth Mr. Ginger
Mr. Ginger arrived at the Central Florida Zoo in extremely fragile condition. He was one of four sloths considered most critical upon arrival. The zoo’s veterinary team provided intensive care from the moment he got there.
He was hand-fed every few hours. He spent most of his time in an incubator because he could not reliably regulate his own body temperature. The Central Florida Zoo described him as a fighter who held on despite the odds.
His condition did not improve. The decision to humanely euthanize him was made on Friday afternoon.
He is the fourth Sloth World sloth to die at the Central Florida Zoo. The others were Bandit, Habanero, and Dumpling. Necropsies performed on those three listed emaciation as the cause of death, attributed to their previous care at Sloth World.
Central Florida Zoo CEO Richard Glover said the team was heartbroken and acknowledged the countless hours his staff dedicated to Mr. Ginger from the moment he arrived. The zoo’s Facebook post called him a fighter. He was four to six months old.
What Sloth World Actually Was
Sloth World was a facility that had planned to open along International Drive in Orlando before collapsing into bankruptcy. The sloths were imported from Guyana and Peru and kept in an unprepared warehouse in Orange County, with no heat, running water, or windows. Space heaters powered by extension cords from a different building tripped a fuse and shut down, leaving animals in a cold building overnight with nobody there to fix it.
FWC learned about sloth deaths at the facility as early as August 2025 during an unannounced inspection. Inspectors found sloths actively being held in those conditions. They issued a verbal warning about two cage sizes. They left without violations or charges, determining the situation did not meet the legal definition of animal cruelty.
The sloths kept dying.
Necropsy reports and internal emails reviewed by journalists indicate a novel two-toed sloth gammaherpesvirus was spreading through the warehouse. FWC Director Roger Young described the situation as one facility dealing with an intestinal infection, characterizing it as not a widespread issue.
Fifty-six sloths have died since December 2024.
What Florida Just Did
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order banning the importation of sloths into Florida, effective May 13 and running through at least July 10. The ban requires anyone holding sloths in Florida to report severe illness to the FWC. The commission is also reviewing its Class III license requirements, which currently do not require importers to report sloth deaths, only bites or escapes.
FWC has formed a task force to overhaul the rules governing exotic animal permits. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it has opened a criminal investigation at the request of the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed prosecutors from his office are involved in an ongoing criminal investigation. No charges have been filed.
Florida Representative Anna Eskamani called for accountability, describing Sloth World as a reckless, profit-driven operation that exploited animals for money and committed to pushing for both the criminal probe and long-term policy change.
The Nine Who Are Still Fighting
Nine sloths remain at the Central Florida Zoo, receiving around-the-clock care. Several are still in critical condition. CEO Richard Glover has said there is no guarantee any of them will survive. Their names have not been released.
The ban is in place. The investigation is open. The task force is working. The charges have not come.
Mr. Ginger was four to six months old and spent the last weeks of his life being hand-fed every few hours in an incubator by people who were trying everything they could. It was not enough. Fifty-six sloths are gone. Nine are still fighting. Florida finally acted.
It came too late for Mr. Ginger.
