24 Sloths Remain Unaccounted For After Orlando's ‘Slotharium’ Closes Permanently
Orlando’s Sloth World, billed as the planet’s only “Slotharium,” is closing permanently before it ever welcomed a single visitor.
At least 31 sloths died in the facility’s care ahead of its planned opening on International Drive, according to an April 24 announcement from The Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo) and The Sloth Institute (TSI).
The deaths reportedly occurred in a converted warehouse located about a mile from the planned public site, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The closure comes after months of criticism from various conservation groups, including SloCo and TSI.
Orlando’s Sloth World Imported 69 Wild-Caught Sloths
According to SloCo, the facility imported at least 69 wild-caught sloths — both Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths and Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths.
Only 13 have survived as of the most recent update. Approximately 24 additional sloths obtained by Sloth World remain unaccounted for.
The warehouse where the deaths occurred didn’t have electricity or water, per the Orlando Sentinel. Space heaters provided heat, but the sloths were kept in the cold for at least one night after a fuse tripped.
TSI and SloCo had been highly critical of the attraction in the months since Sloth World Orlando was first announced in December. It was promoted as a guided walk-through tour with conservation and education themes, with an original opening date set for February.
The operation, owned by Ben Agresta, reportedly sold a substantial number of advance VIP tickets at $49 apiece.
“Sloth World is an egregious example of the damaging effects of the sloth trade on the welfare and conservation of sloths, but every individual taken from the wild for entertainment is a tragedy. We won’t rest until they’re all safe,” Sam Trull of TSI said in a press release.
“There have still been no legal consequences for the facility’s owner, despite the suffering caused by his actions. It should not take 31 confirmed deaths and a campaign run by two foreign non-profit organizations for action to be taken,” Dr. Rebecca Cliffe of SloCo added.
Central Florida Zoo Steps In to Help
The 13 surviving sloths arrived at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Garden on Friday, April 24
. Agresta initially contacted zoo officials early in the week. The zoo had to confirm internally that it had quarantine space and adequate staffing before accepting the animals.
The sloths are under management of the AZA Species Survival Plan, which will determine long-term placement at other AZA-accredited facilities once the animals recover. They will remain in quarantine for at least 30 days and will not be available for public viewing during that period.
“When we were approached about taking in these sloths, the team all agreed it was something we should and wanted to do,” Richard E. Glover, the zoo’s CEO, said in a news release.
“Our Zoo team has decades of experience caring for sloths, and we can ensure they will receive the best care and nutrition to give them the best opportunity for a positive outcome,” Glover added.
In an April 25 update, Central Florida Zoo confirmed that all 13 sloths have survived the first 24 hours. Veterinary staff examined every animal upon arrival.
Sloth World Receives Criticism From Rep. Maxwell Frost
U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., didn’t hold back in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel on April 24.
“I felt horrible…I was disgusted,” Frost said of the sloth deaths. “Because at the end of the day, like many other issues, it’s the want of money over the welfare of people or animals.”
While Frost expressed satisfaction with the attraction’s closure, he admitted that the consequences shouldn’t end there.
“This can happen again because of the loopholes within our system and because of the lack of coordination between state and federal officials,” he said. “So there’s still work to be done here.”
The warehouse conditions were initially reported in August 2025. The deaths occurred by December, but Sloth World continued to import sloths anyway, according to Inside Climate News.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
