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31 sloths die in Florida before opening of attraction

April 25, 2026

Thirty-one sloths intended for a new tourist attraction called Sloth World in Orlando died before the facility could open, according to Florida wildlife authorities. The deaths occurred in two separate incidents: 21 sloths from Guyana perished in December 2024 when they were exposed to cold temperatures after heaters failed in an unprepared warehouse lacking electricity and water, and 10 sloths from Peru either arrived dead or died from apparent malnourishment in February 2025. While the attraction's owner claims the deaths resulted from an undetectable virus, investigators found the animals were kept in substandard conditions including improperly sized cages.

Who is affected

  • Thirty-one sloths (21 from Guyana, 10 from Peru) who died
  • Remaining sloths now being cared for at another Central Florida zoo
  • Ben Agresta, owner of Sloth World
  • Peter Bandre, vice-president of Sloth World
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators
  • Orange County Building Safety's office
  • Florida state Rep Anna Eskamani
  • The Sloth Conservation Foundation and The Sloth Institute (advocacy organizations)
  • Potential visitors to the Orlando tourist attraction

What action is being taken

  • Orange County Building Safety's office has posted a stop work order at the warehouse
  • Other regulatory bodies are investigating (beyond the closed FWC investigation)
  • More than a dozen remaining sloths are being cared for by another zoo in Central Florida

Why it matters

  • This case reveals significant gaps in wildlife protection regulations, as Florida's FWC is not required to be notified when captive animals die, meaning violations only come to light through public reporting. The deaths highlight the serious health risks and suffering that sloths experience when removed from their natural tropical rainforest habitat and shipped internationally for commercial exhibition purposes. The incident also raises concerns about oversight of wildlife permits and the welfare standards at tourist attractions that use exotic animals, particularly in a major tourist destination like Orlando.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC

31 sloths die in Florida before opening of attraction