Rescued sloths moved indoors due to cold weather

A big change in plan for the sloths at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford. We're talking about the surviving sloths from the now infamous Sloth World. As the temperatures tumble, they have all been moved inside. Hannah McKenzie is joining us live now. So, Hannah, the move is not all that temporary. This is the future home of the sloths. The goal is for the zoo to keep about three or four of the surviving eight. This habitat should be up and ready by spring, but whether or not you'll see them out here, I'm told that is up to the sloths. The sloths are staying in Sanford, at least for now. All eight surviving Sloth World sloths will be weathering the winter at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It is a change in plan. Initially, the zoo was going to keep a couple, then transfer the rest to other AZA-accredited facilities this fall, says Richard Glover. We started really thinking about these animals and their reactions to stress and change and whether they could handle those kinds of trips. And we just didn't feel like they're yet to the point they could, and we didn't want to take any risk with them. They've been through enough. And they won't be staying outside. In fact, Glover tells us they've already been moved indoors, where they'll stay for at least the next few months. It's temperature controlled. We've got humidifiers we brought in. There are sensors checking all of those things all the time. We have backup generators in case power goes down. The transfer was hands-free and on the sloths' own schedules. Some went in buckets, others in heated boxes, whatever they preferred. Most handled the transition well, but a few did regress. They shut down and stopped eating. They're on the mend now, says Casey Hackett, but it's a reminder of just how fragile these little fighters still are. Everything that has happened has put a huge microscope, on the exotic pet trade and the pet industry so we're excited to be a voice for that. It's a small staff of three caring for the sloths, and that's by design. They know temperaments and personalities and can tell when something's off. Hackett is one of them. She's been with the sloths since the day they were surrendered. Most animals can adapt really well to a quick, large life change, but we also have to remember what these sloths have gone through in the past, and we just want to make sure that we are setting them up for success for their future. I'm told all eight sloths will stay inside until the weather warms up, and even then it'll be up to each sloths individual condition as to when they'll be taken to their new habitat. In Sanford, Hannah McKenzie, Fox 35 news.