More than 50 Sloths Died at a Florida Wildlife Attraction. Officials Say No Crime Occurred.

More than 50 sloths died at a Florida wildlife attraction known as Sloth World, according to an investigative report released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The report found no evidence of criminal activity or neglect leading to the deaths, despite accounts of severe suffering among the animals. The attraction, located in Orlando, was intended to become a tourist destination but closed before opening to the public. The report, authored by Deputy Aaron Bennett, detailed the dire conditions faced by the sloths. Some were described as emaciated and dehydrated, with one reportedly frothing at the mouth and another found lying on the ground for two days, covered in feces. Bennett concluded that the deaths resulted from health issues rather than criminal acts or inadequate care. His findings were based on interviews with the attraction's owner, Benjamin Agresta, former employees, a veterinary forensic pathologist, and a sloth care expert, alongside veterinary records and inspections conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Sloth World initially faced challenges in caring for its animals, according to state records. When the first batch of sloths arrived at the facility in December 2024, the site lacked running water or electricity. Space heaters designed to maintain warmth failed, leaving some sloths exposed to cold temperatures overnight. Although the facility later made improvements, the number of deaths continued to rise over the following 16 months as the company continued to import additional sloths from countries such as Guyana and Peru. Jess Beaulieu, manager of the animal law program at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, commented on the lack of criminal charges. She stated that current laws in Florida narrowly define animal cruelty, focusing on actions such as unnecessarily tormenting an animal or depriving it of food. This limited scope, she argued, fails to adequately protect animals like sloths, which require specialized care due to their unique biological makeup. The FWC did not take action to halt Sloth World’s operations or prevent further imports of sloths, despite the high mortality rate. An agency spokesperson explained in an April email that there was no legal basis for intervention or closure. A photograph taken by an FWC inspector showed one of the warehouses used by Sloth World in March 2025. According to Bennett’s report, several individuals involved with Sloth World, including Agresta, his employees, and caretakers from a local zoo, described the facilities as adequate. However, concerns about the quality of care persisted. One of Sloth World’s veterinarians had no previous experience working with sloths when she was hired, the report noted. She informed state authorities that the company expanded too rapidly and failed to manage disease outbreaks effectively. Additionally, she claimed that the organization overused certain medications in treating the animals. Following an April investigative report by Inside Climate News, the last 13 surviving sloths were relocated to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. The zoo’s chief veterinarian reviewed the sloths’ medical records and suggested that many had been overmedicated. Several employees at the zoo reported that the animals were in extremely poor health upon arrival, with five of them dying shortly after being transferred. Sloths are native to the tropical forests of Central and South America and have specific biological requirements. Their slow metabolism and low body temperature make them particularly sensitive to changes in environment, diet, and exposure to stressors such as human interaction. These factors likely contributed to the difficulties encountered by Sloth World in maintaining the health of its animals. The report highlights the complex interplay between wildlife management practices, legal frameworks, and the biological needs of exotic species. While the sheriff’s office determined that no criminal charges would be filed, the case underscores ongoing debates about how to regulate private wildlife attractions and ensure proper care for non-domesticated animals. The transfer of the remaining sloths to a more established facility marks a critical step in addressing the immediate welfare concerns associated with the attraction’s closure.