Full Breakdown
Habanero’s Death Highlights Ongoing Sloth World Crisis and State Investigation
5/5/2026, 2:14:11 PM
Core Event: Habanero’s Demise at the Central Florida Zoo
Adult male sloth Habanero, the second animal rescued from the shuttered Sloth World attraction, was euthanized on Saturday after his condition deteriorated despite intensive veterinary care. He had arrived on April 24 with dehydration, under-weight status and gastrointestinal distress, and was the latest in a series of fatalities that began with fellow rescue Bandit last week.
Background & Context: Sloth World’s Fatal History and Rescue Transfer
Sloth World, a planned International Drive tourist attraction, never opened after state inspections uncovered 31 sloth deaths between December 2024 and February 2025. Subsequent investigative reporting raised the death toll to more than 50, while the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) later confirmed 61 sloths were imported from Guyana and Peru between December 2024 and March 2026. Animals were housed in a warehouse lacking permanent electricity, running water and adequate heating, exposing them to hypothermia, malnutrition and disease. Owner Ben Agresta filed for bankruptcy and donated the remaining 13 sloths to the Central Florida Zoo, where they entered a 30-day quarantine.
Key Figures & Groups
- Habanero – adult male sloth, died May 4, 2026.
- Bandit – juvenile male sloth, died April 29, 2026.
- Richard Glover – CEO, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.
- Ben Agresta – former owner of Sloth World.
- James Uthmeier – Florida Attorney General.
- Anna Eskamani – State Representative (D-Orlando).
- Monique Worrell – Orange-Osceola State Attorney.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
- The Sloth Institute – nonprofit wildlife research organization.
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Data & Statistics
- 61 sloths imported (FWC records).
- Confirmed deaths: 31 (FWC inspection), 33 (Central Florida Zoo count), >50 (media investigations).
- 13 rescued; 11 remain under care, two classified as “guarded.”
- Health issues on arrival: dehydration, under-weight, gastrointestinal (GI) problems, mineral deficiencies.
- Necropsies revealed hypothermia-related organ damage, untreated infections, parasitic loads and severe malnutrition.
Why It Matters: Animal-Welfare and Regulatory Implications
The case underscores systemic gaps in Florida’s exotic-animal oversight, especially for wild-caught species imported for entertainment. It has prompted bipartisan legislative pressure, potential revisions to permitting and reporting requirements, and a high-profile criminal probe that could set precedent for future wildlife-trade enforcement.
Official Statements & Responses
The zoo reported that Habanero “initially showed encouraging signs of stabilization” before worsening lethargy forced euthanasia. It emphasized ongoing intensive care for the remaining sloths, including a fecal microbiota transplant from the Los Angeles Zoo. Attorney General Uthmeier announced his office is assisting the Ninth Judicial Circuit with a criminal investigation, pledging “unwavering commitment to pursuing justice.” The FWC stated its inspections found no intentional malice, noting corrective actions were taken before the final report. The Sloth Institute’s necropsy findings highlighted preventable neglect and systemic failures.
Criticism & Opposition
Rep. Anna Eskamani called the deaths a “failure of government,” urging criminal charges for animal-cruelty violations. Animal-rights groups, including PETA, have demanded federal prosecution, arguing the operators knowingly kept sloths in hazardous conditions. Lawmakers have also pressed the USDA for a separate inquiry.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Death counts vary: 31 (FWC), 33 (zoo), >50 (media). The FWC concluded the deaths did not meet Florida’s animal-cruelty legal threshold, while the Attorney General’s office is pursuing criminal liability. Import numbers differ between agency records and investigative reports, leaving the total scope of the trade unclear. Necropsy results are still being reviewed, and definitive causality for each death remains pending.
Verbatim Quotes
- “THE AG SAID, QUOTE, OUR OFFICE IS UNWAVERING IN ITS COMMITMENT TO PURSUING JUSTICE ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.” — James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General
- “They were taken from the wild and brought for human entertainment to Florida. That alone should be prohibited.” — Anna Eskamani, State Representative
- “I MEAN, THEY’VE IT APPEARS THEIR NUTRITION HAS NOT BEEN CORRECT.” — Richard Glover, CEO, Central Florida Zoo
- “We knew this was an uphill battle, but it’s really tough on the team to lose them,” — Richard Glover, CEO, Central Florida Zoo
- “When the sloths came into our care, several were more critical and required more focused attention.” — Richard Glover, CEO, Central Florida Zoo
What’s Next: Ongoing Investigation and Future Care
The criminal probe will examine import documentation, necropsy reports and warehouse conditions to determine potential charges under Florida’s animal-cruelty statutes. The zoo continues intensive monitoring of the 11 surviving sloths, exploring long-term placement with AZA-accredited facilities. Lawmakers are drafting tighter oversight legislation for exotic-animal imports, and the FWC is reviewing its reporting requirements in response to the case.
