Central Florida Zoo gets $10K grant for sloth rehabilitation efforts

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has received a $10,000 grant for its work rehabilitating sloths tied to the failed Sloth World attraction.The NAVC Gives award recognizes the zoo's efforts to care for the sloths, the North American Veterinary Community said in a news release."The Central Florida Zoo's team has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to these sloths through clinical expertise, collaboration, innovation and, importantly, compassion," NAVC CEO Gene O'Neill said in a statement. "We are proud to recognize their work and the impact it represents across our veterinary community."Dozens of sloth deaths tied to Sloth World From 2024 to 2025, dozens of wild sloths were imported from South America to Central Florida for the Sloth World attraction planned for Orlando's International Drive.The animals were kept in a warehouse on I-Drive where at many of them died.The owners behind Sloth World donated 13 surviving sloths to the Central Florida Zoo.The sloths arrived at t