Animals

Animal shelters in Tampa Bay have too many pets and not enough space. What’s leading to the overcapacity — especially for cats?

Leading sloth experts say the agency's finding underscores the need to address glaring flaws with current animal welfare protections.

Internal emails obtained by Inside Climate News show the state of Florida saw no need to stop the unfolding mass deaths of sloths at a planned Orlando tourist attraction.

Five of the sloths that came to the zoo died. The survivors are doing well and getting more comfortable with zoo staff and the veterinary processes required to ensure their health.

The temporary ban on sloth imports into Florida expires after July 10.

Willow is the fifth sloth to die at the zoo since 13 arrived there in poor condition from a Sloth World warehouse on April 24.

Officials at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are reviewing those recommendations. Last month, Florida paused the importing of sloths after the Sloth World deaths became public.

Pet owners can download an app and book one-way or roundtrip rides for their animals. Currently, the organization is serving dogs and cats.

After years of using dogs to track the scents of missing people, a Sarasota County search-and-rescue group has added a new team member. It's a really social aquatic animal with thick fur and webbed paws.

It follows public outcry that arose over dozens of animal deaths connected to Sloth World, a now-canceled attraction previously planned in Orlando. The temporary ban expires on July 10.

Dozens of sloths were captured from the wild and shipped to Florida for the now-canceled attraction. At least 34 of those sloths are now dead.

The zoo's veterinary team is keeping an extra-close eye on two of the remaining eleven animals recently transferred from a Sloth World warehouse in Orlando.