Florida Officials Investigate ‘Sloth World’ Attraction After 31 Sloths Die in Orlando Warehouse
Why It Matters
Florida’s wildlife enforcement system is under scrutiny after a newly released incident report revealed that dozens of wild sloths imported from South America died in a poorly maintained Orlando warehouse intended to house them before a planned tourist attraction opened. The case raises serious questions about animal importation permitting, facility oversight, and accountability for those who profit from the wildlife trade.
Orange County officials and state wildlife regulators are now under pressure to halt the planned opening of Sloth World, billed as the world’s only “slotharium,” before further harm occurs to the animals in its care.
What Happened
According to an incident report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), 31 sloths procured from Peru and Guyana for the forthcoming Sloth World attraction died in a storage warehouse between December 2024 and February 2025. The facility, located in the Orlando area, had no independent power or running water at the time.
The facility’s then-owner, Peter Bandre, told inspectors that 21 two-toed sloths from Guyana died from a “cold stun” after temporary heaters powered by extension cables from a neighboring building failed. The remaining 10 sloths arrived from Peru — two were found dead on arrival, and the rest died from what was described as poor health following signs of emaciation.
During an August 2025 FWC inspection, cages at the facility were found not to meet regulations for animal welfare. The agency did not issue fines or formal citations but issued a verbal warning for a “captive wildlife discrepancy.” An Orange County building inspector visited the warehouse more recently and issued a stop work order after finding no one present. The building is permitted for vehicle storage, not animals, and unauthorized modifications appeared to have been made.
By the Numbers
31 — Total sloths that died in the warehouse between December 2024 and February 2025.
21 — Two-toed sloths from Guyana that died after temporary heaters failed in the unpowered warehouse.
10 — Sloths from Peru, two of which arrived dead, the rest dying from poor health.
$49 — Per-ticket price advertised for the planned Sloth World attraction.
7,500 square feet — The described size of the Sloth World facility, which its website says was “in decoration mode” and set to open within approximately 25 days of the most recent reporting.
1,141 — The number of sloths reportedly imported to the United States, according to the Sloth Institute’s analysis of government data.
Zoom Out
The Sloth World controversy is drawing national attention to a broader debate over the permitting and regulation of wild animal importation for commercial entertainment purposes. Non-profit organizations including the Sloth Conservation Foundation and the Sloth Institute issued a joint statement in January condemning the practice of removing wild sloths from South American rainforests for exhibition in U.S. facilities.
“Removing wild animals from the rainforest for use in entertainment facilities risks normalizing wildlife extraction at a time when many species are already under pressure from habitat loss,” said Rebecca Cliffe, founder of the Sloth Conservation Foundation. Advocacy group World Animal Protection US also called the situation a “tragic example of the cruel and unethical wildlife trade” and urged Orange County officials to block the attraction’s opening.
Florida has seen a number of high-profile environmental and wildlife stories in recent months. Hundreds of wildfires burning across Florida and Georgia have added pressure on the state’s already strained wildlife and land management resources.
What’s Next
Orange County code enforcement inspectors have made multiple unsuccessful attempts to access the interior of the warehouse. The stop work order remains in effect, and the county has referred animal welfare questions to FWC, which had not returned comment requests at the time of reporting.
Congressman Maxwell Frost, a Democrat representing central Florida, announced his office was investigating the matter. Animal advocacy groups are pressing for a wider inquiry into the permitting process governing the importation of wild animals from South America for commercial use.
Sloth World’s current sole owner and president, Ben Agresta — Bandre has since departed the venture — has not returned requests for comment. The attraction’s website continued to advertise an imminent opening, though the stop work order and ongoing investigations cast the timeline into doubt. Whether FWC or county officials will take further enforcement action remains to be seen.