31 Sloths Die in Orlando Warehouse Amid Attraction Probe

Orlando, Florida authorities have confirmed the deaths of 31 sloths imported for a planned animal attraction, Sloth World Orlando, which remains unopened amid investigations into unsuitable housing conditions. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that the animals, shipped from Guyana and Peru between December 2024 and February 2025, perished in a warehouse lacking basic utilities, prompting public outcry and the transfer of surviving sloths to a local zoo.

State records detail that 21 sloths arrived from Guyana in December 2024, only to die shortly after due to exposure to cold temperatures in an unprepared facility. The warehouse, located near the attraction's site on International Drive, initially had no water or electricity. Company representatives told investigators the shipment could not be canceled, and space heaters were later installed using extension cords from a nearby building. However, a tripped fuse left the animals without heat one night when temperatures dropped to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to what officials described as a "cold stun." A second shipment of 10 sloths from Peru arrived in February 2025; two were dead on arrival, and...