The chief executive of the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Richard Glover, addressed the Sloth World situation in a published article. More than 50 sloths died at Sloth World, an Orlando tourist attraction that will never open. On April 25, the zoo accepted a donation of 13 very ill sloths, taking on the challenge and the financial responsibility of trying to save and care for them. Eight sloths remain.
The zoo says its work must go beyond the well-being of those eight animals, and that the deaths of all the Sloth World sloths should become the impetus for changes. That includes Bandit, Habanero, Dumpling, Willow and Mr. Ginger, who lost their long battles to survive after arriving at the zoo. Investigations by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Orange County Sheriff's Office found the owners of Sloth World guilty of no criminal wrongdoing, a result Glover described as outrageous and tragic but possible because of a flawed system.
Glover said sloths are classified as a Class III species in Florida, a broad category for non-domesticated animals not considered dangerous to human safety. A permit is required to own, exhibit or sell a sloth, but permits do not require experience with sloths and there is no requirement to report the death of a Class III animal. He said FWC temporarily halted sloth imports and strengthened permitting requirements for bringing sloths into Florida, and called those meaningful actions. He proposed further steps: requiring the reporting of permitted exotic animals' deaths, strengthening qualifications to import, exhibit or sell highly specialized species, and reevaluating whether the Class III designation adequately protects particularly vulnerable species.
Press release issued by Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens:
https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/make-their-deaths-count/
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