31 sloths perished at an unauthorized Orlando warehouse, with officials citing inadequate heating as a primary cause. The deaths, occurring between December 2024 and February 2025, were revealed in a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report. The sloths, imported from Guyana and Peru, were intended for Sloth World, a planned “rainforest-inspired indoor habitat” marketed as the “world’s only ‘Slotharium.’”

The warehouse, operated by Sanctuary World Imports and linked to Sloth World’s vice president Peter Bandre, lacked basic utilities when the first shipment arrived in December 2024. Bandre admitted the facility was unprepared but claimed the shipment couldn’t be canceled. A second batch of 10 sloths arrived in February 2025, with two dying en route and the rest succumbing to poor health. Orange County inspectors issued a stop-work order, noting the warehouse was never authorized for animal storage.

Critics, including conservationist Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, condemned the conditions as “the worst possible” for solitary sloths. Florida’s lax regulations allow commercial sloth displays despite ethical concerns. Sloth World’s website, which lists tickets starting at $49 and claims an April 2025 opening, draws backlash as officials investigate the deaths. The incident highlights risks in the unregulated exotic pet trade and raises questions about accountability for endangered species.

The sloths’ origins in countries with lax export laws and the stress of capture further compounded their vulnerability. As Florida debates stricter permits, the tragedy underscores the need for oversight in wildlife tourism ventures.