Thirty-one sloths planned for a new slothnarium in Florida died before the attraction's planned opening, authorities have found. The mammals were set to be showcased at a permanent public exhibit at Sloth World in Orlando, which is slated to open this spring.
Many of the sloths died due to conditions at a Florida warehouse where they had been shipped, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) report released on Friday. Others arrived in poor health or already dead, as the report indicates.
Ben Agresta, the owner of Sloth World, has denied the allegations laid out in the report, claiming that there was so much false and inaccurate information out there right now. He insists that the sloths lost had a virus that showed minimal symptoms, making it undetectable even post-mortem.
The FWC's report details two separate instances leading to the sloths' deaths. In December 2024, 21 sloths shipped from Guyana succumbed to cold conditions at the warehouse, while in February 2025, two of ten sloths from Peru were found dead upon arrival, with the remaining eight showing signs of malnourishment and poor health soon after.
Investigators were alerted to the situation when inquiries revealed that the warehouse lacked proper heating, water, and electricity, causing issues that the attraction's representatives blamed on the adverse conditions of shipment. One representative stated: It was too late to cancel the shipment, while attributing the deaths to a cold stun.
In addition to these reports, there were deficiencies discovered in the enclosures utilized for the sloths, risking their health further. Regulatory oversight from the FWC concluded without citations, raising concerns among animal rights advocates and lawmakers about the adequacy of wildlife permission enforcement.
Florida state representative Anna Eskamani emphasized the need to address major gaps in regulations surrounding wildlife permits, as the commission was not required to be notified of animal deaths. Criticism surrounding Sloth World's upcoming attraction and its operational readiness grows as the opening date approaches amidst ongoing investigations and scrutiny from various animal welfare organizations.
Many of the sloths died due to conditions at a Florida warehouse where they had been shipped, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) report released on Friday. Others arrived in poor health or already dead, as the report indicates.
Ben Agresta, the owner of Sloth World, has denied the allegations laid out in the report, claiming that there was so much false and inaccurate information out there right now. He insists that the sloths lost had a virus that showed minimal symptoms, making it undetectable even post-mortem.
The FWC's report details two separate instances leading to the sloths' deaths. In December 2024, 21 sloths shipped from Guyana succumbed to cold conditions at the warehouse, while in February 2025, two of ten sloths from Peru were found dead upon arrival, with the remaining eight showing signs of malnourishment and poor health soon after.
Investigators were alerted to the situation when inquiries revealed that the warehouse lacked proper heating, water, and electricity, causing issues that the attraction's representatives blamed on the adverse conditions of shipment. One representative stated: It was too late to cancel the shipment, while attributing the deaths to a cold stun.
In addition to these reports, there were deficiencies discovered in the enclosures utilized for the sloths, risking their health further. Regulatory oversight from the FWC concluded without citations, raising concerns among animal rights advocates and lawmakers about the adequacy of wildlife permission enforcement.
Florida state representative Anna Eskamani emphasized the need to address major gaps in regulations surrounding wildlife permits, as the commission was not required to be notified of animal deaths. Criticism surrounding Sloth World's upcoming attraction and its operational readiness grows as the opening date approaches amidst ongoing investigations and scrutiny from various animal welfare organizations.
