Death of 31 Sloths Before Opening of Florida 'Sloth World' Triggers Regulatory Scrutiny
Introduction
A planned animal attraction in Orlando, Florida, named Sloth World, experienced the deaths of 31 sloths between December 2024 and February 2025 before its scheduled opening. The deaths, documented in a report by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), have led to investigations by multiple regulatory bodies and criticism from lawmakers and conservation groups.
Main Body
According to the FWC report, obtained by the BBC and Inside Climate News, there were two separate incidents of sloth deaths. In December 2024, 21 sloths imported from Guyana died from cold exposure at a warehouse in Florida. The facility had no water or electricity; space heaters bought to keep the animals warm caused a fuse to blow and stopped working, leaving the sloths without heat for at least one night. Weather data shows that temperatures in the area dropped to 46°F (7°C) the following week. In February 2025, a shipment of ten sloths from Peru arrived with two already dead and the remaining eight appearing very thin; all later died from poor health. The FWC also noted that on two occasions, sloths under the care of Peter Bandre, listed as the attraction’s vice-president, were kept in cages that did not meet requirements for captive wildlife, for which a verbal warning was given. Sloth World’s owner, Ben Agresta, initially denied the allegations, claiming that the sloths had died from a virus that could not be detected even after autopsy. However, in a later interview on April 24, 2025, Agresta announced that the attraction had abandoned its plans to open and would file for bankruptcy. Bandre had previously told investigators that the warehouse was not properly prepared to receive the animals and that it was too late to cancel the shipment, attributing the deaths to a “cold stun.” The FWC closed its investigation without issuing a written warning or citation, but an agency spokesperson confirmed that other regulatory bodies are conducting their own inquiries. The Orange County Building Safety office issued a stop work order at the warehouse on April 24, citing alleged violations of state building codes and county rules. The incident has drawn criticism from Florida State Representative Anna Eskamani, who described the case as exposing a “major gap” in wildlife permits, noting that the FWC is not required to be notified of animal deaths. The Sloth Conservation Foundation and the Sloth Institute had previously expressed concerns about Sloth World’s planned opening. Sam Trull, executive director of the Sloth Institute, stated that sloths removed from their forest canopy and shipped internationally often suffer serious health problems from dietary changes and artificial environments, which frequently lead to death. The remaining 13 sloths from the attraction were donated to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, which placed them under quarantine and is working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for long-term placement. The zoo noted that many of these animals will require lifelong human assistance. The broader context involves a growing, not strictly regulated commercial tourism sector centered on sloths, which are native to Central and South America. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, one of the six sloth species is in danger of extinction and another is at risk. The sloths that died were imported from Guyana and Peru, countries that experts say still permit the capture of wild sloths for sale. Sloths cannot regulate their body temperature and typically feed on tropical leaves, making them especially vulnerable to cold and dietary changes.
Conclusion
The deaths of so many sloths at Sloth World highlight weaknesses in the oversight of wildlife exhibits and the difficulties of keeping exotic animals in artificial environments. Since the owner has filed for bankruptcy and several investigations are still ongoing, the future of the facility remains uncertain. The surviving sloths have been transferred to a zoo with accredited care.