Thirty-one sloths destined for a new "slothnarium" in Orlando, Florida, have died before the attraction's planned spring opening, according to authorities. The mammals were supposed to be showcased at Sloth World, a permanent public exhibit advertised as a rainforest-inspired habitat "designed exclusively with sloth well-being in mind." Spoiler: it wasn't.
A report released Friday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) details the grim toll. In December 2024, 21 sloths shipped from Guyana died due to cold conditions at a Florida warehouse where they were housed. Then in February 2025, two of 10 sloths traveling from Peru arrived dead; the remaining eight appeared emaciated and later succumbed to poor health. Others arrived already dead or ill, per the report. Sloth World owner Ben Agresta denied the allegations, telling Fox-35: "The truth is, we lost sloths that had a virus of which showed barely any symptoms and was undetectable even after necropsy." The BBC has contacted Sloth World, its owner, and representatives.
The warehouse, per FWC investigators, was not properly set to receive the animals. Vice-president Peter Bandre, described in promotional material as "one of the most respected sloth experts in the world," told investigators it was "too late to cancel the shipment" and attributed deaths to a "cold stun." The building had no water or electricity, so space heaters were purchased but tripped a fuse and shut down. For at least one night, the sloths - native to tropical rainforests requiring 70°F - 86°F (21°C - 30°C) - were without heat. Historical weather data shows lows hit 46°F (7°C) the following week. The FWC also found sloths under Bandre's care were in cages not meeting captive wildlife requirements, resulting in a verbal warning.
The FWC closed its investigation without a written warning or citation, though other regulatory bodies are reportedly investigating. Orange County's Building Safety office issued a stop work order at the warehouse, citing alleged violations of state building codes and county rules. It's unclear if Sloth World, located in a popular tourist corridor, will open as planned. Local media reports more than a dozen remaining sloths are now cared for by another Central Florida zoo.
The revelations sparked criticism from lawmakers and advocates. Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani called it a "major gap" in wildlife permits, as FWC is not required to be alerted to animal deaths. "If it wasn't for everyday people who care and reported these deaths," she said, "it's hard to know when FWC would have even learned about [them]." Sam Trull of The Sloth Institute noted sloths removed from forest canopies and shipped internationally often suffer serious health issues, adding: "For a lot of captured sloths, this leads to their death."