Thirty-one sloths destined for a new "slotharium" in Florida have died before the attraction could open its doors, according to a state investigation.
The animals were intended to star in a permanent exhibit at Sloth World in Orlando, which had been slated to open this spring. But a report released Friday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) details how many perished in a cold, unheated warehouse, while others arrived already dead or sickly.
The FWC report outlines two tragic incidents. In December 2024, 21 sloths shipped from Guyana died due to frigid conditions at a Florida warehouse where they were being housed. Then in February 2025, two of 10 sloths arriving from Peru were dead on arrival; the remaining eight appeared emaciated and later died from poor health.
Peter Bandre, listed online as the attraction's vice-president, told investigators the warehouse was not properly prepared to receive the animals. "It was too late to cancel the shipment," he said, attributing the deaths to a "cold stun." The building lacked water and electricity, so space heaters were purchased, but they tripped a fuse and shut down. For at least one night, the sloths were left without heat. The animals, native to tropical rainforests, typically thrive in temperatures between 70°F and 86°F (21°C–30°C). Historical weather data shows lows hit 46°F (7°C) the week after their arrival.
Sloth World owner Ben Agresta denied the allegations, telling Fox-35 Orlando: "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 reached out to Sloth World for comment.
Sloth World's website promotes the venue as Orlando's only "slotharium," with a rainforest-inspired habitat "designed exclusively with sloth well-being in mind."
The FWC also found that in two instances, sloths under Bandre's care were kept in cages that did not meet captive wildlife requirements, resulting in a verbal warning. Despite the deaths, the FWC closed its investigation without a written warning or citation, though a spokesperson said other regulatory bodies are now investigating. Orange County's Building Safety office issued a stop work order at the warehouse, citing building code violations.
It remains unclear whether the attraction—located in a popular tourist corridor—will open as planned. Local media reported that more than a dozen surviving sloths are now being cared for by another zoo in Central Florida.
The revelations have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and animal rights advocates. Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani said the case exposed a "major gap" in wildlife permits, as the FWC is not required to be notified of animal deaths. "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 said.
Sam Trull, executive director of the Sloth Institute, noted that sloths removed from their natural habitat often suffer severe health issues. "For a lot of captured sloths, this leads to their death," he said.