US EditionSloth World Shuts Down After 31 Wild Sloths Die in Care
FWC said preventable warehouse conditions killed the animals before the attraction opened, and the zoo later took in 13 surviving sloths for quarantine.
- At least 31 wild sloths died after being housed in an unheated, off-site warehouse for the upcoming Orlando roadside attraction Sloth World, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report.
- Licensee Peter Bandre admitted the warehouse lacked electricity and heat when shipments arrived from Guyana in December 2024, causing what investigators described as cold stun, a fatal condition for sloths.
- Necropsy reports confirmed a novel two-toed sloth gammaherpesvirus rippled through the facility, while researchers identified systemic stress from international transit as a definitive catalyst for the rapid mortality rate.
- Despite the initial fatalities, related business Sanctuary World Imports acquired at least 38 more wild sloths, though the USDA stated the company holds no required display license.
- The Sloth Conservation Foundation criticizes extracting wild animals for entertainment, stating sloths lack domestication history, as Sloth World's grand opening remains repeatedly delayed with only digital mockups online.
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66 Articles
31 sloths acquired by an Orlando animal attraction died, officials say
Thirty-one sloths that had been acquired by a planned animal attraction in Orlando, Florida, featuring the peculiar creatures died soon after they were imported into the United States, many of them from a lack of heat at a warehouse that was not authorized to keep wildlife, state and county officials said. The post 31 sloths acquired by an Orlando animal attraction died, officials say appeared first on Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
In Florida, 31 sloths died due to poor transport conditions, lack of care and cold before Sloth World opened. The owner denies any wrongdoing, but an investigation has revealed numerous irregularities and sparked criticism from animal rights activists.
FWC investigation finds dozens of sloths died before Orlando attraction opening - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
ORLANDO, Florida (WBBH) — An investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) found that dozens of sloths intended for “Sloth World Orlando,” which has yet to open, died after being kept in unsuitable conditions. FWC reported that 21 sloths arrived in Florida from Guyana in December 2024, while 10 more came from Peru in February 2025. The animals were reportedly housed by “Sanctuary World Imports” in a warehouse that …
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