Thirty-One Sloths Die in Florida Warehouse Before Orlando Sloth World Opening
Thirty-one sloths, destined for a new 'slothnarium' in Orlando, Florida, have died prior to the attraction's scheduled opening this spring. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released a report detailing that many of the mammals succumbed to conditions within a Florida warehouse where they had been shipped. Other sloths arrived deceased or in critical health, subsequently dying.
Ben Agresta, the owner of Sloth World, disputed the report's findings, stating, "The truth is, we lost sloths that had a virus of which showed barely any symptoms and was undetectable even after necropsy."
Sloth World promotes itself as Orlando's sole 'slotharium,' featuring a rainforest-inspired habitat designed for sloth well-being.
Investigation Reveals Multiple Fatalities
The FWC report outlines two primary instances of mass sloth deaths. In December 2024, twenty-one sloths imported from Guyana died due to cold conditions at the Florida warehouse. Then, in February 2025, two of ten sloths from Peru arrived dead, with the remaining eight appearing emaciated and later dying from "poor health issues."
Peter Bandre, listed as the attraction's vice-president, informed FWC investigators that the warehouse was not adequately prepared to receive the animals, attributing their deaths to a "cold stun." The building reportedly lacked water and electricity, and space heaters failed due to a tripped fuse, leaving the tropical animals without heat for at least one night. Historical weather data indicates lows of 7C (46F) during the week of the December 2024 shipment.
The FWC investigation also noted two instances where sloths under Bandre's care were housed in cages that did not meet captive wildlife requirements, resulting in a verbal warning.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Broader Concerns
Despite the fatalities, the FWC concluded its investigation without issuing a written warning or citation, although other regulatory bodies are reportedly conducting their own enquiries. Orange County's Building Safety office issued a stop-work order at the warehouse, citing alleged violations of state building codes and county rules.
Florida State Representative Anna Eskamani highlighted a "major gap" in wildlife permitting, noting that the FWC is not mandated to be informed of animal deaths. Animal rights organisations, including the Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute, had previously voiced concerns regarding Sloth World's planned opening. Sam Trull, executive director of The Sloth Institute, remarked, "When removed from the forest canopy and shipped internationally to the US, sloths often suffer from serious health issues... For a lot of captured sloths, this leads to their death."
