SANFORD, Fla. (June 16, 2026) – The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is saddened to announce the passing of Willow, one of the sloths that arrived at the Zoo from Sloth World on April 24.
Over the past several days, Willow’s health declined despite ongoing veterinary treatment and intensive supportive care. After closely monitoring her condition, Zoo veterinarians made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Willow to prevent further suffering.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Willow,” said CEO Richard Glover. “Our animal care teams devoted countless hours to providing compassionate care. While this outcome is heartbreaking, we take comfort in knowing Willow received the highest level of care and support from a team that was fully committed to her well-being.”
Our team remains focused on providing ongoing support and necessary treatments for the surviving sloths in our care: Chewy, Dolce, Phantom, Blackberry, Hazel, Leeloo, Mojo Jojo and Pearl. All remain in quarantine, a critical step that helps provide a stable, low-stress environment while veterinary and animal care teams closely monitor their progress and provide any necessary medical treatment.
For more information, visit the Zoo’s sloth information page at https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/sloths-at-the-central-florida-zoo/.
For those who would like to donate to the Zoo’s efforts, click here. The Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations help continue to provide the best care possible for these sloths in need.
To view or download visuals, click here.
