Our Story
A journey inspired by compassion, shaped by urgency, and driven by a mission to protect sloths.
How a Crisis Became a Mission
What began as a response to sloths in crisis has grown into a long-term commitment to research, education, and creating a better future for these gentle animals.
Habitat Fragmentation and Displacement
While Guyana maintains one of the world’s highest percentages of forest cover, localized deforestation and habitat fragmentation—often driven by mining, infrastructure development, and agriculture—are increasingly impacting sloth populations. As their specific home ranges are disrupted, sloths lose the vertical corridors they rely on for food, safety, and thermoregulation.
Displaced or injured sloths are frequently rescued by local community members; however, Guyana currently lacks a centralized, state-funded national sloth sanctuary. Instead, care falls to a small network of private eco-resorts and volunteer-led initiatives. These rescuers work tirelessly with limited resources, but they face significant challenges in providing the specialized, long-term rehabilitation required to successfully return these high-stress mammals to the wild.
Bridging the Gap: From the Canopy to Conservation
The sloths at Sloth World represent a vital link between the rainforests of Guyana and our mission here in Orlando. While some of our residents are captive-born, others have been legally sourced from regions in South America where habitat fragmentation—often due to land clearing for agriculture and mining—creates an uncertain future for local populations.
We recognize that the most effective way to protect sloths is to preserve the trees they call home. By inviting you into this immersive, educational experience, we are able to transform commercial success into direct conservation action. A portion of every ticket sold is funneled back into the Guiana Shield to fund habitat protection and support the grassroots initiatives that safeguard these animals in the wild.
Our commitment is twofold: providing a world-class, stress-free environment for the animals in our care, and ensuring that through your visit, we can help stop the “Truly Endangered” label from ever being applied to these incredible species.
What Observation Reveals
Sloths are one of the most understudied mammals, and observing them closely, without touching or handling, creates valuable insight into their biology and behavior.
At Sloth World, each sloth contributes to ongoing research that informs global care standards and deepens scientific understanding. This commitment to learning became a core pillar of our mission.
Rescues and Research
Sloth World is beginning partnerships with local rescues and where there are none, creating them. We are always exploring scientific research partners, too. Our goal is to learn about the least studied mammal and to make the funds available to ensure real world results.
Your support of Sloth World is how these partnerships begin. Continued visibility and resource support will help ensure these caregivers can continue their lifesaving work and remain part of every sloth’s ongoing story. Our goal is to learn about sloths, protect them, and to teach you everything about them.
Get Involved
Together, We Can Help Sloths Thrive!
From learning about their challenges to sharing their stories, your involvement supports ongoing rescue, research, and education efforts that make a real difference for sloths.
Our Mission
To provide specialized, lifelong care for sloths impacted by habitat disruption while advancing education and research that support sloth welfare and conservation.
Our Vision
To inspire widespread understanding of sloths and their importance by educating the public, supporting conservation efforts, and protecting the habitats these animals depend on.
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Our Care & Conservation Team
Our sloths are supported by compassionate caretakers, skilled veterinarians, researchers, and dedicated rescue partners who work together to protect, understand, and care for every animal we welcome.
Walk Through the Treetops
Visit Orlando’s Only Slotharium
Explore a rainforest-inspired habitat designed exclusively with sloth well-being in mind. Meet our residents, learn their stories, and discover how your visit helps protect sloths in the wild.
