Mr. Ginger, youngest sloth treated by Central Florida Zoo, dies, adds to Sloth World death toll

Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel on May 15, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

ORLANDO, Fla. — Mr. Ginger, one of the sloths transferred to the Central Florida Zoo for treatment following the closure of Sloth World, died Friday, bringing the number of deaths tied to the ill-fated attraction to 56.

The sloth, estimated to have been just four to six months old, was the youngest sloth to arrive at the zoo from International Drive attraction, which announced it would not open following the deaths of dozens of other sloths in its care.

The deaths in a warehouse before Sloth World opened to the public ignited outrage from animal rights groups, calls for a criminal investigation and Florida’s decision this week to at least temporarily ban the import of any more sloths into the state. The sloths had been imported from Guyana and Peru.

Zoo officials took in the 13 still-living sloths and said Mr. Ginger arrived in “extremely fragile condition.” He had to be hand-fed every few hours while he spent most of his time in an incubator to regulate his temperature. He was euthanized after his condition failed to improve.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Mr. Ginger,” CEO Richard Glover said in a statement. “From the moment Mr. Ginger arrived, our animal care and veterinary teams dedicated countless hours to providing intensive and specialized care. Mr. Ginger’s condition was extremely fragile, but our staff remained committed to giving Mr. Ginger every opportunity possible.”

Mr. Ginger’s death follows that of three other sloths brought to the zoo on April 24. Those sloths — Bandit, Habanero and Dumpling — were considered the most critically ill of the 13 two-toed sloths that arrived. They died within days of each other from emaciation, the zoo said, citing necropsy reports.

The cause of Mr. Ginger’s death won’t be determined until a necropsy is performed, which could take a few days.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, the Orlando Democrat who has led the charge against Sloth World since news of the animal deaths became public, said Friday in a statement that, “Mr. Ginger’s story should never have been written the way it was.”

The sloths shipped to Sloth World were “sentient, vulnerable animals, enjoying life in the forest, who were then exploited for a quick buck by operators who treated their welfare as an afterthought,” Eskamani said. “We owe Mr. Ginger — and all the sloths who have lost their lives — more than mourning. We owe them action.”

Sloth World was slated to open in the I-Drive corridor until Inside Climate News uncovered 31 deaths from December 2024 to February 2025. Twenty-one of those sloths, according to reports, died of “cold stun” caused by faulty space heaters inside warehouse on a cold winter night. The rest died from infections shortly after arriving to the United States from Peru.

Another 21 deaths were discovered through necropsy reports released by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Since Sloth World’s closure, lawmakers and sloth conservation groups have pushed for a criminal investigation into the deaths. Though the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigated, it gave Sloth World’s operators only a verbal warning over the size of the animals’ cages, despite knowing about the deaths. Now, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

This week, FWC Executive Director Roger Young issued an executive order banning sloth imports into Florida for 60 days, with the exception of sloths already en route to the state prior it took effect.

According to a 2025 analysis by the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, 98% of imported sloths entered the U.S. through the Port of Miami between 2011 and 2021.

_____