Second Sloth from Sloth World Dies at Florida Zoo

A second sloth rescued from a troubled, unopened tourist attraction in central Florida has died despite rehabilitation efforts at a local zoo. Habanero, an adult male, was euthanized Saturday at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens to prevent further suffering, zoo officials said.

Habanero arrived last week along with 12 other sloths surrendered by Sloth World, a planned attraction in Orlando's tourism district that never opened. All the animals were underweight and suffering from gastrointestinal issues upon transfer, requiring intensive specialized care, according to a zoo statement. Another sloth from the group, named Bandit, died the previous week after arriving at the facility.

Habanero initially responded well to treatment, eating and drinking regularly under close veterinary supervision. His condition deteriorated in recent days, prompting the decision to euthanize him.

The deaths have drawn scrutiny to Sloth World's handling of the animals. Inspection reports from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission document 31 sloth fatalities between December 2024 and February 2025. In December 2024, 21 sloths imported from Guyana died at an Orlando facility...