Central Florida Zoo mourns deaths of sloths Bandit and Habanero

Bandit and Habanero had become familiar names to many Central Florida Zoo visitors in Sanford, where families had been following a fragile rescue effort that began with 13 sloths taken in from the failed Sloth World attraction. The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens said both animals arrived underweight, dehydrated and dealing with gastrointestinal problems, turning what began as a donation into a difficult test of veterinary care and public trust in a Seminole County institution.

The zoo accepted the 13 sloths on April 24, 2026, and said the animals were placed in quarantine for at least 30 days. A day later, the zoo reported that all 13 had survived their first 24 hours and were being closely monitored. Within days, however, Bandit’s condition worsened rapidly. The zoo announced Bandit’s death on April 29, marking the first loss among the group that had drawn concern from across Sanford and the wider Central Florida community.

Habanero, an adult male sloth, died on May 3 after a period of critical illness. The zoo said he had been in critical condition since late Friday afternoon and that the decision was made to humanely euthanize him as his condition continued to decline. Even as the losses mounted, the zoo said it was consulting experts from around the country while continuing to care for the remaining animals.

The deaths have intensified attention on the broader collapse of Sloth World, a planned Orlando attraction that never opened. At least 33 sloths imported for the cancelled project are now confirmed to have died. After Habanero’s death, 11 sloths remained in the Central Florida Zoo’s care, a reminder that the rescue is still ongoing and that the consequences of the failed attraction continue to unfold in plain view for Seminole County families who had come to know these animals through the zoo’s daily work.