Overview
- Dumpling, a rescued sloth who died Tuesday, was the third of 13 transferred animals to perish, leaving 11 under quarantine at the Central Florida Zoo.
- USA TODAY, citing state records, reports 55 total deaths tied to the operation, combining 31 logged by Florida wildlife officials, 21 more in agriculture records, and the three zoo losses.
- Florida inspectors found the sloths were housed in an Orlando warehouse without electricity or running water and with faulty heaters in late 2024 and early 2025, conditions linked to cold exposure and severe decline.
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says a statewide prosecutor is assisting the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office, and state Rep. Anna Eskamani joined sloth experts for a Wednesday news conference to press for reforms.
- Necropsy reports show the animals were underweight, had gastrointestinal illness, and were fed inappropriate food such as brown rice, and experts warn sloths hide illness and recover slowly, fueling calls to curb imports of wild-caught sloths.