Mortality of Thirty-One Sloths Prior to Opening of Florida 'Slotharium' Prompts 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 fatalities, 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
The FWC report, obtained by the BBC and Inside Climate News, details two distinct episodes of mortality. In December 2024, 21 sloths imported from Guyana died due to cold exposure at a warehouse in Florida. The facility lacked water and electricity; space heaters purchased to maintain warmth tripped a fuse and ceased operation, leaving the animals without heat for at least one night. Historical weather data indicates that temperatures in the area dropped to 46°F (7°C) the following week. In February 2025, a shipment of ten sloths from Peru resulted in two animals arriving deceased and the remaining eight appearing emaciated; all subsequently died from poor health conditions. The FWC also noted that on two occasions, sloths under the care of Peter Bandre, listed as the attraction’s vice-president, were housed in cages that did not meet captive wildlife requirements, for which a verbal warning was issued. Sloth World’s owner, Ben Agresta, initially denied the allegations, stating that the sloths had succumbed to a virus that was undetectable even after necropsy. However, in a later interview with Fox 35 Orlando 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 issues 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, loosely 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 critically endangered and another is vulnerable. 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 particularly vulnerable to cold and dietary changes.
Conclusion
The mass mortality of sloths at Sloth World highlights deficiencies in the oversight of wildlife exhibits and the inherent challenges of maintaining exotic animals in artificial environments. With the attraction’s owner filing for bankruptcy and multiple investigations ongoing, the facility’s future remains uncertain, while the surviving sloths have been transferred to accredited care.