Gabrielle Russon
U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost is now calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate after at least 31 sloths died before the opening of the Sloth World attraction in Orlando.
“I am appalled to hear about the 31 sloths who died under the ‘care’ of the not yet opened Sloth World in Orlando,” the Orlando Democrat wrote on X this week. “These sloths — naturally solitary animals — were put in the worst conditions possible. They were taken from their natural habitats to a packed warehouse that wasn’t properly heated and allowed for the spread of deadly viruses, leading to a stress-induced death.”
Sloth World is set to open on International Drive in Orlando’s tourism corridor to offer $49 animal experiences.
Frost’s concerns arise after Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspectors detailed the deaths of the animals who have been imported from Miami International Airport in late 2024 and early 2025.
Some of the animals died being shipped, while others died after they were left in a warehouse that had no electricity or water and at one point no heat in the Winter, according to Inside Climate News, which broke the story last week from a public record request.
Other traditional Central Florida media outlets and entertainment websites began covering the story this week.
Fox35 Orlando reported the warehouse did not proper permits, causing an Orange County inspector to issue a “stop work” order at the warehouse.
Meanwhile, Sloth World’s social media presence went dark, Attractions Magazine reported.
“What we really wanted to do with Sloth World is actually replicate the rainforest as their home,” then Sloth World Vice President Peter Bandre told the Orlando Sentinel in an interview last year to promote the new opening. “You are in their home, and that’s the most important thing to really remember.”
The Sentinel reported this week that Bandre has since left the company. Sloth World did not respond to request for comment over the growing public outcry.
“This was mass death by greed. Thirty-one sloths were torn from their tropical rainforest homes and confined in warehouse conditions, reportedly so cold their bodies couldn’t cope — all to become props for selfie-seekers,” People For Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation Managing Director of Captive Wildlife Debbie Metzler said in a statement.
“No Instagram post is worth a single life, let alone 31, and PETA urges everyone to steer clear of any outfit that uses wild animals as photo props.”
