Story perspectives

Florida Probe Follows 50+ Sloth Deaths at Orlando Park

5/3/2026

Summary

Uthmeier Investigates Slothpark

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office is aiding a probe of Sloth World Orlando.
More than 50 sloths died at the park, including 31 between Dec 2024 and Feb 2025.
The 13 surviving sloths were moved to the Central Florida Zoo, arriving dehydrated and underweight.
Necropsies showed malnutrition, organ damage, infections and dehydration, with Bandit dead, Habanero critical, and a statewide animal-welfare prosecutor joining the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

Summary

PETA Demands Probe

PETA sent a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement invoking the animal-cruelty statute and demanding a probe of Benjamin Agresta, Peter Bandre, Sloth World and Sanctuary World Imports.
Import records show Sloth World imported 60 sloths, with a shipment of 21 from Guyana that spent a night without heat in an unready warehouse.
Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to probe Sloth World.

Summary

Zoo Rescues Sloths

The Central Florida Zoo in Sanford is now housing the 13 sloths rescued from the closed Sloth World.
CEO Richard Glover said staff will provide each animal the best life possible, whether two hours or 20 years.
Veterinary staff are delivering intensive care to reverse dehydration and severe weight loss observed on arrival.
Bandit died shortly after arrival while another sloth remains in critical condition under zoo monitoring.

Summary

AG Probes Slothpark

Sloth World advertised a $49 ticket and merchandise for an up-close sloth encounter before the park opened.
The sloths were captured from the wild in Peru and Guyana and imported for the attraction.
Scientists said sloths cope with stress by curling into a ball, releasing cortisol that can cause organ failure.
The attorney general’s office described the investigation as a new level of accountability for the commercial wildlife trade.

History

Historical Context

After the 1973 adoption of CITES—opened for signature that March and effective 1 July 1975—global trade rules have covered thousands of species. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, a CITES Party, now enforces those rules. In 2024 Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s probe rescued 13 sloths illegally imported from Peru and Guyana, echoing the treaty’s long-standing ban on illicit wildlife commerce.

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Uthmeier Investigates Slothpark

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office is aiding a probe of Sloth World Orlando.
More than 50 sloths died at the park, including 31 between Dec 2024 and Feb 2025.
The 13 surviving sloths were moved to the Central Florida Zoo, arriving dehydrated and underweight.
Necropsies showed malnutrition, organ damage, infections and dehydration, with Bandit dead, Habanero critical, and a statewide animal-welfare prosecutor joining the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

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