Quick Take

Sloth World is slated to open in late February2026 in Orlando, Florida.

Sloth World's marquee attraction is its "Slotharium."

The Slotharium will be home to up to 40 two-toed and three-toed sloths.

Sloth World says it will also be a place where researchers can study these elusive, tree-dwelling animals.

Fans of the movie franchise Zootopia know that sloths make the perfect DMV (Department of Mammal Vehicles) workers. Incredibly slow-moving and methodical, Flash Slothmore and the rest of his three-toed colleagues were the natural choice to show up behind the government office's counter.

While sloths in real life may not process motor vehicle licenses or drive high-performance sports cars like Flash, they are still incredibly cute and are popular attractions in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries around the world. Soon, visitors to Orlando, Florida, will have a new, up-close way to experience sloths at Sloth World—home to the world's only "Slotharium." The park is scheduled to open at the end of February 2026.What Is Sloth World?

According to the Sloth World website, the park gives visitors the opportunity to meet sloths up close in a serene, indoor rainforest environment. Unlike many other animal attractions in Orlando, Sloth World was designed to offer a less-crowded experience.

Home to more than 40 sloths, Sloth World's main attraction will be the "Slotharium," a 7,500-square-foot habitat designed around the sloth's needs. The cage-free layout features tall climbing structures that allow sloths to move, explore, and sleep whenever and wherever they like.

Each hour-long tour is limited to 10 to 15 guests. While there is no age limit, Sloth World reserves the right to limit the number of small children in any group. A member of the "team may also step in if noise or behavior becomes disruptive, and in rare cases, guests may be asked to step out to help maintain a peaceful environment for the animals and other visitors."

Each tour is led by trained and experienced sloth experts. These experts care for and work closely with the sloths each day, enabling them to really get to know each sloth's personality and preferences. During the tour, guests will learn about sloth behavior, habitat, and diet. The tour also includes a special focus on conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

Guests can observe these natural behaviors up close in an environment specifically designed for the sloths' comfort. Guests are not permitted to touch, pet, or hold any sloth, and noise levels are kept to a minimum to ensure the sloths don't get stressed out. There's no feeding allowed, either.

At the conclusion of each tour, guests can explore Sloth World's gift shop, where sales help support the park's conservation mission. According to Sloth World, these funds help "support rescue work in South America, provide supplies for local rehab centers, and fund scientific studies that help the world better understand sloth health and behavior."Does Sloth World Conduct Research?

According to the Sloth World website, the facility collaborates with the University of Florida and other researchers to publish studies related to sloth health and behavior. They also share their data freely with scientists worldwide to assist with sloth conservation.

Researchers are also expected to visit Sloth World to study the animals. The website cites this as a rare opportunity, since in the wild, sloths reside hundreds of feet up in the rainforest canopy, making it difficult to observe and study them. The researchers who visit Sloth World will gather data on all aspects of sloth life, including behavior, nutrition, health trends, and recovery time. The data will help advance sloth care around the world.Where Do Sloth World's Sloths Come From?

The Sloth World website states that its sloths come from various locations across South America and beyond. Some were given up by private individuals who could no longer care for them. Others were victims of habitat loss in their native regions. Some sloths also arrived from facilities that lacked the expertise or resources to adequately care for them.

Sloth World notes on its website that it does not have a proactive breeding program in place. However, they note that if the animals at Sloth World naturally reproduce, the babies will join their parents in the Slotharium.Ethical Aspects of Sloth World

Sloth World bills itself as a conservation-focused nature park. The website says the resident sloths come from various rescue situations and are cared for by a team of highly trained veterinary professionals who specialize in sloth behavior and nutrition. All care is overseen by Jenn Lane, a USDA Level 2 Veterinarian.

According to the Sloth World website, strict rules are in place to ensure that each sloth receives ethical care and treatment. The animals are not handled for entertainment, are not forced to perform or behave in a certain way, and live in an environment free from stressful interactions. The website says the sloth care team focuses each day on what is "healthiest and most natural for the animals."

These caretakers are also the tour guides who lead visitors through the Slotharium. This ensures that the information provided is accurate and specific to each sloth encountered during the tour. Peter A. Bandré is listed on the website as the Vice President and Head of Animal Care at Sloth World. He is also the author of Nurturing the Unique Treasures of Nature: A Definitive Guide to Two-Toed Sloth Care. The Sloth World website also credits Bandré with helping to "bring 90% of the sloths currently living in U.S. exhibits into safe, professional environments."

However, at least two sloth-focused conservation groups have reservations about at least some of Sloth World's ethics. The Sloth Institute and The Sloth Conservation Foundation recently issued a joint press release calling out Bandré's ties to a U.S. company that imported sloths for sale to private buyers.

The press release notes, "According to publicly accessible U.S. wildlife import data, Incredible Pets, Inc. imported 80 sloths into the United States between 2011 and 2021, making it one of the largest documented importers of these animals during that period." Bandré is the former CEO of Incredible Pets.

The press release also references an analysis of U.S. wildlife import data, which determined that between 2011 and 2021, nearly all imported sloths were taken from the wild. Of the 1,146 imported sloths, 1,141 were wild-caught, mostly from the South American country of Guyana. The press release also notes that Bandré is the administrator of a Facebook page focused on private sloth ownership and captive husbandry.How to Visit Sloth World

If you want to visit Sloth World in person, you'll need to plan ahead. Presale VIP tickets are on sale now and cost $49 each. According to the Sloth World website, these tickets give you access to Sloth World between its grand opening and May 31, 2026. After purchasing your ticket, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to schedule your visit.Anyone planning to visit Sloth World on or after June 1, 2026, can purchase a standard VIP ticket. Those tickets are also $49 each. The ticket price includes timed entry into the Slotharium for a fully guided tour. Tickets are refundable up to 24 hours before a scheduled visit and can be transferred to another guest or rescheduled at no additional cost.

The pathways through the Slotharium are designed to accommodate mobility devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters. Service animals are not allowed inside the Slotharium, but are permitted in other public spaces and the gift shop. Visitors with service animals should contact the Sloth World team before arrival to discuss alternative solutions.

The post Inside Sloth World: A Sanctuary and Research Hub for Rescued Sloths appeared first on A-Z Animals.

From the gold miners of the 1840s to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Levi Strauss has been the denim brand of choice for iconic American entrepreneurs for nearly two centuries — most of them male.

The company is now trying to tilt that demographic mix in the opposite direction. If there were one major gap in Levi’s sales portfolio — and thus a potential source of untapped growth — it is sales to women, who barely make up 40% of company receipts, CEO Michelle Gass said.

That’s despite more than half the company’s employees being female. Gass, the company’s first-ever female chief executive, said Levi’s is seeking to evolve beyond jeans to become a major force in women’s apparel with items like denim skirts and blouses.

“We’re still under-serving the female consumer,” Gass said in an interview for NBC News’ Business in America series.

“There’s been so many eras and chapters for Levi’s, and here today, while we’re so in tune and honoring that legacy, we also see a huge chapter ahead of us,” said Gass.

If Levi’s stock price is an indication, Gass is ushering Levi’s successfully into that next chapter. Since the company announced Gass’s hire in November 2022, Levi’s stock has climbed nearly 50% to more than $23 per share.

Last year, Levi’s raked in $6.4 billion in net sales, its best 12-month stretch since 1997, as athleisure fatigue has given way to the stirrings of a denim revival. On Wednesday, the company reported revenues of $1.56 billion for the second-quarter, beating Wall Street’s expectations and putting it on track to top last year’s annual sales.

For an apparel brand synonymous with America’s history, Gass is quick to emphasize that today Levi’s is a global brand, with approximately 60% of company sales coming from overseas.

Alongside a brand partnership with Beyoncé, who penned a paean to Levi’s on her most recent album, the company has also recruited a Bollywood star and top European and British influencers — most of them female — to sport their looks.

Levi’s also appears to be riding a cresting wave of newfound interest in baggy jeans and denim jackets, especially among Gen Z women.

“There’s so much more we can do in this, call it head to toe, always anchored in denim,” Gass said.

Levi’s is also benefiting from the bifurcation of the economy itself: First-quarter sales of its premium denim line, Blue Tab, were up 40%, while that of its Signature line aimed at lower-income consumers climbed 16% — though this also reflects the fact that Levi’s possesses a significant customer base of middle and lower income consumers.

Long tied to the shelves of big-box retailers like Macy’s, Levi’s is now leaning into direct-to-consumer sales by doubling down on standalone stores and investing in its website, including adding an AI shopping agent, Gass said. “

Consumers really do like buying directly from us,” she said. “Where I get really excited is this is where we can bring the fullest expression of the Levi’s brand, especially now as we move forward to head-to-toe denim lifestyle.”

That strategy is not without risks, as another iconic American brand has shown: Nike is in the midst of a generational sales funk that now has it on the verge of closing the majority of its flagship stores.

And as strong as its performance has been, Levi’s stock gains nonetheless trail rivals Abercrombie and Fitch and Gap over the past three years.

Gass is unbowed.

“We’ve never been frozen in time, and it’s always about continuing to evolve, to elevate, and to expand who we are without losing the core of what we represent,” she said.

The price of oil surged more than 4% Wednesday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. ceasefire deal with Iran was "over" and the United States was planning additional strikes.

Meanwhile, U.S. stocks fell Wednesday, compounding a sell-off Tuesday fueled by concerns about chip and tech stocks. However, the Nasdaq ended the day higher as the semiconductor sector rebounded.

The S&P 500 closed down 0.3% and the Dow Industrial Average fell 577 points. The Russell 2000 index, which tracks small- and mid-cap companies, tumbled 0.9%.

The price of U.S. crude oil jumped as high as $76 per barrel in the wake of Trump's comments, its largest one-day move up since the beginning of June. It closed the day higher by 4.4%, at $73.52 per barrel, bringing its two-day gain to more than 7%.

International benchmark Brent crude oil also spiked, rising as high as $80 per barrel, but it wrapped up the day at $78.02, up 5.2%.

"I think it's over," Trump said about the ceasefire on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. "I don't want to deal with them anymore."

Trump said that negotiations could continue but that he considered them a "waste of time."

American forces will "probably hit [Iran] again tonight," Trump said later in the morning, adding that the U.S. military "may take over Kharg Island," an export hub for Iranian crude oil. Likewise, he floated reimposing the American naval blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Energy prices jumped one day after jitters returned to oil markets, sending U.S. crude oil prices from about $69 to more than $72. Heating oil prices, a proxy for jet fuel, also climbed 11%. Wholesale gas futures rose 5%.

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The rapid rise in oil prices also underscores the fragility of the recent drop in U.S. consumer gas prices. The national average price per gallon had fallen from a high of $4.56 in May to $3.79 as of Wednesday morning. But the drop has effectively come to a halt this week, and the national average has remained flat over the last two days, according to AAA data tracked by NBC News.

Government bonds also sold off, driving yields higher. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose as high as nearly 4.6%, its highest level since May.

Airline stocks were some of the hardest-hit shares Wednesday. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines fell around 1.5%. Other travel stocks, such as Booking Holdings and Carnival, fell around 4%.

With oil prices rising again and inflation fears returning to the forefront, other companies that rely on discretionary consumer spending also tumbled. DoorDash and American Express fell 4%, Home Depot fell 2.6%, and Procter & Gamble and McDonald's dropped around 2%.

Global stocks also sold off, with flagship indexes in Spain, Germany and France closing down more than 2%. Benchmark indexes in Italy and the U.K. ended lower by around 1.5%.

On Tuesday, the U.S. said Iran struck three commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has not claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Later in the day, the U.S. Treasury revoked a sanctions waiver that allowed Iranian oil to be sold into the global market and U.S. Central Command launched "a series of powerful strikes against Iran" in retaliation for the vessel attacks.

"Renewed tensions in the Middle East have interrupted what had become an increasingly complacent market narrative, prompting investors to reassess geopolitical risks after several weeks of pricing in a smooth path toward de-escalation," Capital.com market analyst Daniela Hathorn said in a note Wednesday morning.

"The latest attacks have lifted oil prices, weighed on equity markets and reminded investors that while a ceasefire remains in place, a lasting agreement between the US and Iran is far from guaranteed," she added.

After the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June, U.S. oil prices stabilized around $69 to $70 per barrel and remained there for the better part of three weeks.

"For markets and the global economy, the prospect of a swift return to pre-conflict energy and goods flows through the waterway is fading," said Geoff Yu, senior market strategist at BNY.

Oil prices jumped to their highest level since June 25 on Tuesday after the U.S. revoked a temporary sanctions waiver that had allowed the sale of Iranian oil on the global market.

The Trump administration took the action after unknown projectiles hit multiple tankers near the Strait of Hormuz.

In late afternoon trading, U.S. crude oil rose more than 5%, to more than $72 per barrel. International Brent crude oil also rose 5.3%, to more than $75 per barrel.

"As President Trump and the administration have repeatedly affirmed, the [memorandum of understanding] in effect with Iran is entirely performance-based," a U.S. official told NBC News on Tuesday afternoon.

"Iran will only reap benefits if they exhibit good behavior. Iran's actions in the strait were wholly unacceptable to the United States and will be met with consequences," the official added.

The revoked waiver, listed on the Treasury Department's website, said the move was effective immediately. It also said any production, delivery or sale of Iranian oil must be wound down by July 17.

The waiver had originally allowed sales until Aug. 21.

Earlier Tuesday, the U.K.'s Maritime Trade Operations Center said it had received two reports of attacks on ships "transiting the Strait of Hormuz." One of them was "struck by an unknown Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle," the agency said, and a second was "struck by an unidentified projectile and is believed to have structural damage."

An attack Tuesday on a third ship off Oman caused a fire to break out on board, the trade agency said.

The temporary sanctions waiver had brought some relief to oil markets, where supplies have been extremely limited, given that the critical Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to ship traffic for months.

A U.S. official confirmed the U.K. trade agency reports, telling NBC News earlier Tuesday that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had fired missiles at two ships Tuesday and struck a third commercial vessel with at least one drone.

The U.S. military also shot down additional drones fired by Iran, the official said.

Adding to worries for oil traders Tuesday was a report from Reuters that one of the ships, which it identified as a liquefied natural gas tanker, the Al Rekayyat, was "at risk of exploding due to a fire in its engine room." NBC News has not been able to verify the report.

U.S. Treasury yields rose along with oil prices and hit their highest levels of the day after the oil sanctions waiver was revoked. The 20- and 30-year yields broke above 5%, while the 10-year U.S. government bond yield, which more heavily influences consumer borrowing rates than others, rose to its highest level since early June.

Stocks also neared their lowest levels of the day as oil prices jumped, but the S&P 500 closed down off its worst level of the day, down just0.45%.

The Nasdaq 100 index fell harder, however, ending the day down by nearly 2%. Most of the losses were attributable to heavy selling in chip stocks and tech companies after shares of Samsung plunged 7% overnight.

Chip stocks add to market woes

Samsung, one of the world's largest chip and memory manufacturers, reported better-than-expected earnings early Tuesday. But investors noted that the earnings beat was not as large as some had expected, triggering a sell-off in the company's shares.

Samsung "stock crumbled in a wave of profit taking, sending shockwaves through the U.S. market a day after participants appeared to re-embrace volatile chip names," Joe Mazzola, Charles Schwab's head trading and derivatives strategist, wrote in a note Tuesday.

But Samsung is only the latest major tech company in recent months to see its stock fall sharply despite reporting strong earnings. Investors remain cautious and easily spooked by any signs that the euphoria carrying AI stocks could be slowing.

Adding to the pressure on chip stocks Tuesday was a report from Reuters that the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is developing its own AI chip. Over time, that could reduce the company's reliance on chips from American suppliers.