Florida has temporarily halted importation of sloths following the deaths of dozens of the wild-born mammals at a now-shuttered Orlando business, a move with national implications.
The two-month ban, which the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) ordered on Wednesday, is a significant roadblock for people attempting to import the tree-dwelling mammals from the wild for exhibition or as pets. The impact will extend far beyond Florida: More than 98 percent of total U.S. sloth imports from 2011 to 2021 entered through the port of Miami, according to government data analyzed by The Sloth Institute, a conservation group.
In April, an Inside Climate News investigation revealed that 31 sloths died in a Sloth World warehouse soon after it imported the animals from Peru and Guyana in late 2024 and early 2025. Necropsy records obtained by Inside Climate News showed that the deaths continued to mount, primarily due to stress and illness. The company had planned to display sloths at an attraction where customers could view them up close for $49, according to its now-defunct website.
Following that reporting, Sloth World shut down and is now being criminally investigated by Florida authorities. The owner did not respond to requests for comment on the probe.
