Central Florida Zoo receives $10,000 grant for sloth rescue efforts

The Central Florida Zoo Botanical Gardens has received a $10,000 award to support its rehabilitation of 13 rescued sloths.The grant from NAVC Gives, the charitable arm of the North American Veterinary Community, recognizes the Sanford Zoo’s veterinary and animal care efforts for the sloths, which arrived in critical condition in April.The animals came from Sloth World on April 24 and needed significant medical and nutritional care. Zoo staff launched an intensive effort involving veterinary, animal care and nutrition teams to stabilize the sloths and develop individualized treatment plans.Caregivers kept routines consistent and worked to minimize stress, allowing staff to track each animal’s feeding patterns, personality and subtle behavioral changes that could signal health problems.Five of the 13 sloths died despite the zoo’s efforts. Veterinarians conducted necropsies and histopathology to better understand the severe conditions the animals had when they arrived and to guide care