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Orange County Just Voted to Explore Banning Exotic Wildlife Imports. Here's What It Means.
On August 4, 2026, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners did something that would have been unthinkable a year ago: they unanimously voted to begin developing a local ordinance that could prohibit the importation of exotic wildlife for commercial entertainment purposes.
This happened in the same county where Sloth World Orlando operated. And it happened because people refused to let the story end when the facility closed.
HOW WE GOT HERE
The initiative was introduced by District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson, who submitted a memorandum requesting the County Attorney’s Office and county staff to evaluate how Orange County could use its existing authority over land use, business licensing, public safety, and community welfare to prevent anything like Sloth World from happening again.
The memorandum specifically names a countywide prohibition on importing exotic wildlife for commercial entertainment, while carving out clear exemptions for accredited zoos, wildlife rehabilitators, veterinary facilities, educational institutions, government agencies, and qualified conservation organizations.
Commissioner Wilson’s framing was direct: complying with minimum state and federal requirements did not prevent what happened at Sloth World. Orange County, as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, has both the authority and the responsibility to hold itself to a higher standard.
During the public comment period, local residents, veterinarians, conservationists, and animal welfare advocates spoke in support. State Representative Anna V. Eskamani also addressed the Commission, emphasizing the need for local action while broader reforms continue to move through state and federal channels.
THIS GOES BEYOND JUST SLOTHS
One of the most important things commissioners made clear during the meeting is that this conversation is not just about one facility. The ordinance being developed would examine whether any business model built around the repeated importation and exhibition of exotic wildlife is compatible with Orange County’s values.
Commissioners also raised concerns about hands-on wildlife encounters, businesses where members of the public pay to hold or interact directly with exotic animals. Several commissioners questioned whether those models are consistent with responsible tourism and animal welfare, and discussed exploring additional local restrictions as the ordinance takes shape.
That conversation is one we have been having for years. As we have documented through our research, direct handling is not enrichment for sloths. It is chronic stress. Being passed between strangers, exposed to cameras, crowds, and unfamiliar environments pushes these animals toward a physiological state they cannot recover from. We are glad to see that science is reflected in how local officials are now framing this issue.
WHAT WAS ACTUALLY APPROVED
To be clear: the Board did not pass a final law. What was approved was a directive; the County Attorney’s Office and county staff will now research, evaluate, and draft a formal ordinance for future consideration, drawing on available tools including zoning regulations, land-use authority, business licensing, and local code enforcement.
The draft ordinance will return to the Board for further discussion and public hearings before any vote on a final law.
But the unanimous vote to begin that process is meaningful. If Orange County ultimately adopts this ordinance, it would be one of the first local governments in the United States to formally restrict the importation of exotic wildlife for commercial entertainment, and a model other counties and cities could follow.
WHERE THE SLOTH PROTECTION ALLIANCE STANDS
This vote is the latest in a sequence of wins that has moved faster than anyone expected when we launched the Sloth Protection Alliance.
Since then: Florida issued a temporary halt on sloth imports. Florida introduced a new Wildlife Importation Permit requirement for all future sloth imports. And now Orange County has voted to explore going further than the state has gone.
Our co-founder Sam Trull and SloCo’s Dr. Rebecca Cliffe traveled to Orlando in May to meet directly with state and local officials, FWC commissioners, and lawmakers. We presented the scientific evidence on sloth physiology, stress vulnerability, and the realities of the commercial trade. The momentum since those meetings has been real.
What comes next is bigger: a federal bill. Our teams are working toward a bill introduction timed to generate maximum momentum heading into October, International Sloth Month, with Inside Climate News ready to run an exclusive at the moment of introduction and a coordinated campaign to collect co-sponsors from the 40 states where commercial sloth operations are currently active.
The legislative window is open. We are moving as fast as we can to make the most of it.
Get Involved
How You Can Help
The sloths that died at Sloth World cannot be brought back. But the way this county, this state, and this country treat wild animals is still being written, and right now, we have more power to shape it than we have ever had.
FUND THE FIGHT
USE YOUR VOICE
Sign our petition calling for a federal ban on importing wild sloths into the United States for commercial use
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