Sloth World imported more than 60 wild sloths from the tropical forests of South America and was due to open in Orlando, Florida, sometime in 2026. The company billed itself as the world’s “only slotharium” that was “dedicated to sloth education.” It had already begun selling tickets, but before it opened, Inside Climate News discovered dozens of sloths were dying under its care. The reaction was swift: The public was outraged and authorities stepped in to investigate, eventually opening a criminal probe. The surviving sloths were transferred to a local zoo. Sloth World closed before it ever opened, but many are asking why it was able to legally import wild sloths at all.

Out West, a different animal story is playing out as ranchers worry newly released gray wolves could prey on their livestock. The reintroduction of gray wolves is a conservation success story, but ranchers are struggling to accept the apex predator at a time when it’s already economically challenging to raise cattle. A new technique aims to help ranchers protect their herd and improve their business, but its effectiveness and wider adoption remain unsettled.

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