At least 31 sloths have died in Florida in the United States before the opening of a new tourist attraction called Sloth World. The facility has been shut down before it even opened.
The animals were brought from Guyana and Peru to Orlando. They were kept in a warehouse while the attraction was being prepared. Records from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) show the facility was not ready to receive the animals.
Investigators found that the building had no reliable electricity or running water. Space heaters were used but often failed. At least once, the sloths were left overnight without heat. Sloths live in warm tropical climates and cannot survive low temperatures.
In December 2024, 21 sloths from Guyana died after exposure to cold conditions. In February 2025, 10 more sloths arrived from Peru. Two were already dead, and the other eight were weak and later died.
Reports say many animals showed signs of stress, infection, and poor health. Post-mortem exams also pointed to disease and physical strain.
The owner of Sloth World has denied wrongdoing. He said the deaths were caused by a virus that was difficult to detect.
Authorities said there was no evidence of intentional harm, but inspectors did find problems with the facility and issued a warning.
“Animal advocates worldwide are relieved that Sloth World has been shut down before its doors even opened,” Nicole Barrantes, wildlife campaigner manager at World Animal Protection US, said.
“The torturous conditions these sloths were subjected to were completely unethical and unnecessary, and the cruelty would have continued had Sloth World opened. These sloths should never have been taken from the wild. We must stop exploiting all wild animals for entertainment,” she added.
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