Bipartisan SLOTHS Act Would Restrict Imports for Pets and Commercial Attractions

Two Florida members of Congress have introduced federal legislation aimed at stopping sloth imports for commercial attractions and the exotic-pet trade. Representatives Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Democrat, and Laurel Lee, a Republican, announced the SLOTHS Act on October 20.

The Stopping Legalized Organized Trafficking and Harm to Sloths Act would prohibit imports with narrowly described exceptions. It is a legislative proposal, not an enacted ban, and its introduction does not immediately change what importers may legally do.

According to Frost’s office, the exceptions would cover deceased sloths imported for documented research and eligible captive sloths transferred to Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited institutions for breeding programs. Those breeding transfers would require that the animals had not been taken from the wild after enactment.

The proposed enforcement provisions include civil penalties of up to $20,000 and criminal fines of up to $100,000 for knowing violations. They also provide for cancellation of federal authorizations and forfeiture of illegally imported animals, according to the sponsor’s announcement.

The bill follows deaths associated with Sloth World, an Orlando attraction that never opened. Reporting and official statements describe animals imported from South America and housed in unsuitable conditions. The new development is the federal legislative response, rather than a newly discovered incident at the facility.

The Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute worked with lawmakers on the proposal through their Sloth Protection Alliance. Endorsers include the Animal Welfare Institute, Animal Legal Defense Fund, International Fund for Animal Welfare and Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The foundation emphasizes an important limit: the legislation addresses importation. It would not itself prohibit ownership, exhibition or hands-on encounters involving sloths already in the United States. Its stated protective purpose is to reduce the demand drawing additional animals into international trade.

Why This Matters for Animals

The proposal targets a specific commercial supply route before animals are captured and transported to satisfy U.S. demand. Its exceptions distinguish scientific specimens and qualifying conservation breeding from ordinary commercial imports.

Introduction is a concrete policy step, but the restrictions and penalties would depend on enactment. Protections for animals already living in U.S. facilities remain a separate issue; an import restriction alone would not establish their care standards or ensure their welfare.

Source: Representative Maxwell Frost — October 20 SLOTHS Act announcement