Sloth World, a proposed sloth-focused attraction that was in development on International Drive in Orlando, will not move forward with opening after widespread animal deaths and public backlash surrounding the incidents, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
This came after Sloth World scaled back its online presence. On Thursday, its website was replaced with a minimal placeholder page, and its social media accounts were removed.
Thirteen sloths that remained from the attraction were moved on Friday to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, where they are now in quarantine and receiving care, according to zoo CEO Richard E. Glover, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. The relocation came after Sloth World founder Ben Agresta made direct contact with the zoo earlier in the week to arrange the transfer. The zoo is partnering with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan to identify homes for the animals at other accredited facilities, while some are expected to stay, according to NBC News.
Sloth World’s founder told Fox 35 Orlando that he intends to file for bankruptcy protection.
“It’s been rough on everybody. We expect to go under the bankruptcy immediately as with our sloth population in full control by AZA and no plans to open, we have no other options,” Sloth World owner Ben Agresta told FOX 35 Orlando.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) documented 31 sloth deaths that occurred before the attraction opened to the public. The report linked the deaths to two separate import shipments.
In late 2024, 21 sloths brought in from Guyana reportedly died after being housed in a warehouse near the planned attraction, with cold exposure cited as the cause of death. A second group brought in from Peru in early 2025 also perished, with two animals found dead upon arrival and the remaining eight in weakened condition. None of the animals from that shipment survived.
The FWC did not pursue financial penalties or formal enforcement actions tied to the deaths. However, officials issued a verbal warning after identifying issues with enclosure standards, including habitats that fell below minimum size requirements and incomplete records regarding when animals were placed in those enclosures.
FOX 35 Orlando reported that the warehouse where the animals were housed and where many of the deaths occurred was not authorized to house wildlife of any kind. An Orange County Building Safety inspector issued a stop-work order on Thursday after concluding that animals were being kept inside the facility without the required use permit.
For full details on the reported deaths, see our earlier article.
Featured image: Fox 35 Orlando
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