Thirty-one sloths planned for a new permanent public exhibit at Sloth World in Orlando have died before the attraction's planned opening, according to a report released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission obtained by the BBC on Friday.
The mammals were slated to be showcased at what was advertised as Orlando's only 'slothnarium,' described on its website as having a rainforest-inspired habitat designed with sloth well-being in mind. The FWC investigation outlines two incidents of mass animal deaths ahead of the attraction's opening, raising questions about wildlife permitting and oversight in Florida.
What the Right Is Saying
Ben Agresta, owner of Sloth World, disputed allegations in the FWC report. 'The truth is, we lost sloths that had a virus which showed barely any symptoms and was undetectable even after necropsy,' he told Fox-35 Orlando.
Peter Bandre, listed online as the attraction's vice president, told investigators the warehouse where animals died was not properly set up to receive them when shipments arrived. He said it was too late to cancel the deliveries and attributed deaths to 'cold stun.'
Bandre is described in promotional materials as 'one of the most respected sloth experts in the world.' The company maintains its habitat was designed exclusively for animal well-being, and points out that Sloth World holds a valid wildlife exhibit permit with FWC.
What the Left Is Saying
Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orange County where the attraction is located, said the case exposed gaps in how wildlife permits are administered. 'If it wasn't for everyday people who care and reported these deaths it's hard to know when FWC would have even learned about them,' she told local media.
The Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute both raised concerns before opening. Sam Trull, executive director of The Sloth Institute, said sloths often suffer serious health issues when removed from forest canopies and shipped internationally. 'For a lot of captured sloths, this leads to their death,' Trull said.
Animal welfare advocates point out that FWC is not required to be notified when animals die under wildlife permits, allowing some incidents to go unreported unless members of the public come forward.
What the Numbers Show
According to the FWC report, 21 sloths shipped from Guyana died in December 2024 due to cold conditions at a Florida warehouse where they had been shipped. Historical weather data shows temperatures dropped to 46 degrees Fahrenheit the week after their arrival on December 18. Sloths are native to tropical rainforests and typically live in temperatures ranging from 70F to 86F.
In February 2025, two of 10 sloths traveling from Peru arrived dead upon arrival. The remaining eight appeared emaciated and later died due to poor health issues, the report states. Investigators found the warehouse had no water or electricity connected when animals were housed there; space heaters purchased to keep the building warm tripped a fuse and shut down for at least one night.
The FWC closed its investigation without issuing a written warning or citation. Orange County's Building Safety office posted a stop work order at the warehouse, citing alleged violations of state building codes and county rules. More than a dozen remaining sloths are now being cared for by another zoo in Central Florida.
The Bottom Line
Sloth World's planned opening remains uncertain as multiple regulatory bodies continue investigating. The case has renewed focus on Florida's wildlife permitting system, which does not mandate reporting animal deaths to state officials. The attraction is located in Orlando's popular tourist corridor and had been scheduled to open this spring. Investigators found that sloths under Bandre's care were held in cages that did not meet captive wildlife requirements on two occasions; a verbal warning was issued at those times.