SANFORD, Fla. (April 24, 2026) – Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has accepted the donation of 13 sloths, giving the animals the best possible chance for long-term survival under expert care.
The sloths are currently in quarantine, where they are being assessed by the Zoo’s veterinary team. They will remain in quarantine for at least 30 days, with their nutrition and overall health closely monitored by professional animal care staff and medical teams.
The sloths – both Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths and Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths – will become part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) and Species Survival Plans (SSPs) for their species, cooperative programs designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of genetically diverse animal populations in accredited zoos.
“When we were approached about taking in these sloths, the team all agreed it was something we should and wanted to do. Our Zoo team has decades of experience caring for sloths, and we can ensure they will receive the best care and nutrition to give them the best opportunity for a positive outcome,” said Richard E. Glover, Zoo CEO. “This is also a meaningful opportunity for us to contribute to the long-term conservation of these unique species. By bringing these animals into an accredited setting and participating in the Species Survival Plan, we’re giving them the best possible chance to thrive and helping ensure a healthy, sustainable population of sloths for future generations.”
The Zoo will assume ownership of the sloths, at least temporarily, and will continue working closely with SSP coordinators to determine long-term placement at other AZA-accredited facilities once each individual is stable. AZA accreditation is the gold standard when it comes to animal care and well-being, and the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has been AZA-accredited continuously since 1986.
Select animals are expected to remain at the Zoo, while others will be relocated to accredited partner institutions as part of the broader conservation effort.
The care for sloths underscores the Zoo’s ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and education.
For more information, visit https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/sloths-at-the-central-florida-zoo/.
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