Florida lawmakers have reversed course on a proposed $250,000 cut to state funding for the Central Florida Zoo, in one of the latest developments in lawmakers’ efforts to finalize a state budget for the next fiscal year.
The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, located in Sanford, could receive $750,000 as part of the $114.5 state budget proposal to help fund modernization initiatives, thanks to an earlier funding request submitted by Florida Sen. Jason Brodeur, a Republican from Lake Mary.
The Florida House had initially approved just $500,000 for the zoo in its own appropriation request, filed for consideration by fellow Lake Mary Republican Rep. Rachel Plakon. This lower figure was later matched by the Senate, Orlando Weekly previously reported, as the two chambers struggled to reach a consensus in budget talks earlier this month.
The latest development — restoring the funding proposal to $750,000 — offers a promising outlook for the zoo, which has received significant attention this month for its decision to care for just over a dozen sloths that were rescued from the disgraced Sloth World attraction in Orlando’s tourism district. The attraction, now bankrupt despite never opening, is currently under investigation by the state attorney’s office for its role in the deaths of more than 50 sloths the owner imported from overseas.
The zoo’s decision to take 13 surviving sloths in — a move heralded by the public and elected officials — is costing the zoo an estimated $1,000 a day. The sloths had reportedly been subjected to long-term neglect under the care of Sloth World’s owner, Benjamin Agresta.
Several arrived in “critical” condition, according to the zoo, and four of them — Bandit, Habanero, Dumpling, and Mr. Ginger (the smallest and youngest of the lot) — have had to be humanely euthanized by zoo staff due to their worsening or unimproved conditions, stemming from previous neglect.
“Sloths often do not show clear signs of illness until their condition is already advanced, and when changes occur, they can happen quickly,” the zoo shared in an update following the death of Dumpling on May 5. “Their slow metabolic processes can also delay how and when underlying issues become visible.”
The nonprofit zoo expects to be out of pocket at least $200,000 for their efforts to restore the sloths to proper health, a process that has involved placing the sloths in quarantine and providing labor-intensive medical interventions, such as intubation and refeeding. The sloths that remain in the zoo’s care (currently 30 days into a 90-day quarantine) include Chewie, Leeloo, Dolce, Blackberry, Hazel, Mojo Jojo, Pearl, Phantom and Willow.
The $750,000 state funding request for Central Florida Zoo — initially filed for consideration last fall, before the sloth rescue — is intended to help the zoo “provide a better guest experience and ensure continued accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.” This accreditation allows the zoo to retain “many of its most popular species,” according to the funding request.
The $750,000 in funding will be able to help cover the cost of design and permitting, bathroom improvements, and modifications and repairs to exhibits for animals such as giraffes, rhinos, bald eagles and sloths, according to a funding breakdown included in the request.
This appropriation was one of literally thousands of appropriations requests that are filed by state lawmakers each year, as part of the state’s annual budget-making process. State lawmakers will vote on the proposed state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year Friday, May 29 — after a three week-long special session on state spending.
Also included in the budget proposal is $4 million for the purchase of artificial intelligence software to help determine Floridians’ eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (i.e., food stamps), as reported by the investigative newsletter Seeking Rents.
There’s also $50 million to build a new baseball stadium in Hillsborough County for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team and $2.75 million for the rebranding of Palm Beach International Airport as “President Donald J. Trump International Airport.”
So, it’s a mixed bag.
The state budget also, of course, covers funding for education, transportation, healthcare, public safety, environmental and water infrastructure, and the state agencies and state employees who are tasked with overseeing these different functions of the state government.
If approved by lawmakers Friday, the budget would then go to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his final approval.
Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
Related Stories
Sanford Main Street launches fundraiser for Central Florida Zoo sloth care
Mr. Ginger is fourth Sloth World sloth to die after rescue
Florida lawmakers consider cut to state aid for Central Florida Zoo as they care for rescued sloths
