Dozens of sloths destined for a Florida “slotharium” died in a warehouse or while in transit to the Orlando attraction, state wildlife officials said.
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The 31 deaths occurred between December 2024 and February 2025, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said in a report from last year that was recently released. The majority of the sloths died in an unheated warehouse while awaiting transfer to the still unopened Sloth World exhibit, the report said.
An unannounced routine inspection at the Orlando warehouse in August by the FWC uncovered the deaths, according to the report.
Sloth World told the FWC it placed an order for 21 sloths from Guyana, 15 two‑toed sloths and six three‑toed sloths, that arrived in December 2024.
Those 21 sloths all died due to what Sloth World described as a “cold stun,” the report said. The building was not suitable for the animals, noting that before the sloths arrived, the facility had no water or electricity. Sloth World told the FWC that the warehouse “was not ready to receive the sloths, but it was too late to cancel the shipment.”
Multiple space heaters were purchased, but the report says they had to be powered from a different building using extension cords. This tripped a fuse, meaning there was no heat in the building the night the sloths died. The minimum recorded temperature that night was approximately 46 degrees.
Another 10 sloths from Peru arrived in February, 2025, according to the report. Upon arrival, two were found dead, and the remaining eight later died at the warehouse due to health complications.
During the August 2025 inspection, the FWC noted six two-toed sloths living in the warehouse. The report says cages for two of those living sloths did not meet regulations, so the owners received a verbal warning. No fines or citations were issued.
The FWC did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment.
On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., whose district includes parts of Orlando, announced his office was looking into the “tragedy.”
“I am appalled to hear about the 31 sloths who died under the ‘care’ of the not yet opened Sloth World in Orlando. These sloths — naturally solitary animals — were put in the worst conditions possible,” Frost said on X.
“They were taken from their natural habitats to a packed warehouse that wasn’t properly heated and allowed for the spread of deadly viruses, leading to a stress-induced death. My office is looking into this tragedy, and we will coordinate with local officials to determine how to best move forward.”
Sloth World did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The website for Sloth World currently reads, “Pardon our dust! We’re working on something amazing — check back soon!”
An automated voicemail for the business stated that “Sloth World in Orlando, Florida, is preparing for its grand opening, expected towards the end of April 2026, with initial operations limited in capacity.”