31 Sloths Die In Warehouse En Route To Orlando Exhibit, Officials Say

A Florida lawmaker said he was “appalled” aft learning that much than 2 twelve sloths died successful an Orlando storage en way to a conservation attraction successful nan state.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says nan 31 sloths died betwixt December 2024 and February 2025 while being held astatine a storage installation tied to nan upcoming Sloth World Orlando, which has yet to open. The deaths were elaborate successful a Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission incident report.

“I americium appalled to perceive astir nan 31 sloths who died nether nan ‘care’ of nan not yet opened Sloth World successful Orlando,” Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, who represents Central Florida and Orlando, said successful a societal media post.

“These sloths — people solitary animals — were put successful nan worst conditions possible. They were taken from their earthy habitats to a packed storage that wasn’t decently heated and allowed for nan dispersed of deadly viruses, starring to a stress-induced death,” he continued, adding that his agency is investigating nan situation.

Investigators said nan animals arrived successful 2 abstracted shipments. The first, which arrived connected December 18, 2024, contained 21 sloths from Guyana, including 15 two-toed and six three-toed sloths. The second, which arrived successful February 2025, contained different 10 two-toed sloths from Peru. All were housed successful a storage conscionable minutes from nan early attraction site.

However, nan installation was not fresh erstwhile nan first group of animals arrived, lacking some energy and moving water. Officials were besides told it was “too precocious to cancel nan shipment,” according to nan report.

The mostly of nan deaths were linked to “cold stun,” a information caused by vulnerability to debased temperatures, nan study says.

Space heaters were brought successful to reside nan temperatures but ,at immoderate point, nan fuse tripped, leaving nan sloths without power for astatine slightest 1 night, according to nan report.

On December 22, temperatures dropped to 46 degrees.

The 2nd shipment fared nary better. Two sloths from Peru were already dormant upon arrival, while nan remaining 8 "appeared emaciated and successful very mediocre health,” and later died, officials said.

Despite nan findings, authorities investigators did not rumor fines aliases general violations. They did statement immoderate cage compliance issues and issued only a verbal warning.

The storage was operated astatine nan clip of inspection by licensed wildlife handler Peter Bandre and co-owned by Benjamin Agresta, proprietor and president of nan Sloth World attraction, according to nan report. However, Fox 35 Orlando reports Bandre is nary longer a co-owner and is not progressive successful nan project.

One of nan erstwhile co-owners, who was not publically identified by Fox 35 Orlando, challenged nan FWC’s findings, alleging nan sloths really died from a microorganism alternatively than nan “cold stun.”

"Recently, our installation has been managing a difficult business involving a overseas virus. We person worked tirelessly alongside our veterinarian, nan Florida Department of Agriculture, and different extracurricular experts to successfully place nan microorganism and reside it,” he said successful a statement.

“We are alert of rumors specified arsenic claiming that our sloths were 'cold-stunned' aliases near without h2o and electricity. These claims are wholly false. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conducted a thorough inspection of our installation conscionable past week, recovered perfectly nary wrongdoings, and afloat renewed our license.”

“We person ever prioritized nan wellness and well-being of our animals, investing millions into their attraction and habitats. We stay profoundly committed to nan continued care, safety, and wellness of our sloth population,” nan connection continued.

Sloth World markets itself arsenic nan world’s only “slothnarium” and was slated to unfastened successful March this year. However, overmuch of nan website and nan attraction’s societal media beingness now look to beryllium offline, Fox 35 reports. The attraction claims its ngo is educational, offering visitors penetration into sloths while lodging them successful a protected, research-based situation tailored to their earthy needs. Once open, Sloth World intends to connection hour-long, non-contact tours of an indoor rainforest setting, priced astatine $49, arsenic portion of what it describes arsenic an "ethical, expert-led" experience.

That timeline whitethorn now beryllium successful uncertainty aft Orange County’s Division of Building Safety issued a “stop work” bid astatine nan storage connected Thursday, Fox 35 Orlando reports. The bid followed an inspection that recovered nan installation appeared to beryllium storing animals without nan required usage permit.

The Independent has contacted nan FWC, Sloth World Orlando and nan Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for comment.