Another Life Lost to Sloth World’s Negligence as the Death Toll Continues to Rise

The Central Florida Zoo has confirmed a third sloth death linked to the Sloth World Orlando situation, and the update that arrived May 5 is the kind of news that has become, unfortunately, familiar to everyone following this story closely. Dumpling, one of the 13 sloths transferred to the zoo from Sloth World’s possession, died after eleven days of inconsistent recovery marked by persistent digestion and gastrointestinal complications that took a sudden and rapid turn that the veterinary team was unable to reverse.

The Three Sloth Deaths

Dumpling’s death on May 5 is the third loss the Central Florida Zoo has confirmed since receiving the group of 13 sloths on April 24. The first was Bandit, a three-month-old baby sloth who died on April 29 after arriving in critical condition and taking a sudden turn for the worse despite showing some initial signs of improvement. The second was Habanero, an adult male who initially showed encouraging signs of stabilization, including eating and drinking regularly, before his condition worsened in subsequent days, leading to the decision to humanely euthanize him on May 3.

Three of the original thirteen sloths are now gone. Eleven remain at the Central Florida Zoo receiving individualized around-the-clock care.

Why These Sloth Deaths Keep Happening

The Central Florida Zoo has been transparent in its updates about the specific biological challenges that make sloth rehabilitation so unpredictable in situations like this one. Sloths are well-known to mask signs of illness until their condition is already advanced, and when changes occur, they can happen very quickly. Their metabolisms work so slowly that pre-existing issues can take many weeks to become visible, meaning the full consequences of what these animals experienced before arriving at the zoo may still be at work in the physiology of the eleven survivors. The zoo noted in its May 5 update that as more time passes and the remaining sloths settle into their environment, the veterinary team has been able to move forward with more detailed evaluations, including blood analysis, body condition assessments, hormonal testing, and additional screenings to establish baselines and identify changes as early as possible.

The Broader Context

The deaths at the Central Florida Zoo are the latest chapter in a story that began with an FWC inspection report documenting 31 sloth deaths at the International Drive warehouse connected to Sloth World between December 2024 and February 2025. Those animals died after arriving at a facility without adequate heat, water, or infrastructure. The 13 transferred to the zoo were the survivors of that original group, and three of them have now died despite the best veterinary care available.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has confirmed a criminal investigation into Sloth World, with a statewide prosecutor and animal welfare law expert assisting the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office. PETA has announced a lawsuit. The Sloth Conservation Foundation, whose founder, Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, is preparing to file legal action against Sloth World owner Ben Agresta, is pushing to ban imports of wild-caught sloths into the United States entirely. The company has filed for bankruptcy. The attraction has never opened.

Where Things Stand With The Sloths

Eleven sloths remain at the Central Florida Zoo in care that the zoo has described as complex and requiring ongoing individualized attention. Two individuals were noted as being in guarded condition as of the most recent update before Dumpling’s death, and the zoo has emphasized that each day with the remaining animals represents a continued commitment to giving them the outcomes they were denied under Sloth World’s management.

The Central Florida Zoo is accepting public donations to support the ongoing rehabilitation costs. The criminal investigation is underway. The death toll connected to this attraction that never opened continues to climb. Three of the animals who made it to the zoo alive are now gone. The eleven who remain are receiving everything the zoo can give them and the outcome for each one is still uncertain.