A highly anticipated attraction in Orlando, marketed as the world's first Slotharium, has been forced to cease operations following a devastating report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The facility, known as Sloth World Orlando, was served a stop-work order on April 24, 2026, after authorities uncovered the deaths of 31 sloths.
The investigation revealed that these animals perished between December 2024 and February 2025. Officials determined that the facility failed to provide basic life-sustaining requirements for the tropical creatures.
The first group of sloths arrived from Guyana in December 2024. They were housed in a warehouse that lacked both running water and reliable electricity.
Workers attempted to maintain warmth using space heaters connected via extension cords to a neighboring building. When the power failed overnight, the animals were exposed to freezing temperatures, leading to fatal cold-stun incidents.
A second shipment arrived from Peru in February 2025, but the situation did not improve. Two sloths were found dead upon arrival, while the remaining eight succumbed to illness and severe emaciation shortly thereafter.
Sloths require a strictly controlled environment with temperatures consistently between 81 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit to remain healthy. During the period in question, local temperatures in Florida plummeted to as low as 46 degrees.
Orange County inspectors later confirmed that the warehouse lacked the necessary permits to house exotic animals. Furthermore, the United States Department of Agriculture verified that the facility did not possess the required Animal Welfare License.
While current owners have attempted to attribute the mass mortality to a foreign virus, the evidence of systemic neglect remains the primary focus of the ongoing probe. Former co-owners admitted that the facility was not prepared to receive the animals when the shipments arrived.
The incident has sparked outrage among animal welfare advocates and local lawmakers. Representative Maxwell Frost has publicly condemned the conditions, calling for a thorough investigation into the facility's operations.
This tragedy has raised significant questions regarding the oversight of private exotic animal attractions. As the facility remains closed, the community continues to demand stricter regulations to prevent such preventable losses in the future.