The deaths of 31 sloths at a sleazy operation called “Sloth World Orlando” are making headlines—but the death toll at the now-defunct planned petting zoo is much higher.

In just a year and a half, dozens of animals have reportedly died while in the facility’s care—as many as 52 sloths since December 2024, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspection records obtained by PETA.

After these most recent deaths, Sloth World’s warehouse was issued a “stop work” order, essentially shuttering the outfit ahead of its Spring opening—but it’s already too late for the animals who have already suffered and died. We’re not going to let this go without accountability. That’s why, on April 30, PETA filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement calling for a cruelty investigation into company co-owners Peter Bandre and Benjamin Agresta.

What Happened To the 52 Sloths Who Died in Sloth’s World Care?

According to reports, 21 sloths died within just five days of arriving from Guyana in December 2024 at a warehouse owned by Bandre and Agresta. The facility reportedly lacked heat, electricity, and running water, and was not authorized to house animals.

To emphasize how cruel this is: sloths cannot effectively regulate their own body temperature. They depend entirely on environmental heat to maintain their metabolic rate required for digestion. Unlike many mammals, they can’t shiver or generate enough internal heat to compensate when temperatures drop.

When a sloth becomes too cold, their gut bacteria can die off, which shuts down digestion and can lead to starvation—even if there is still food in their stomach.

Left in the cold, as the sloths at the facility apparently were, the result would not just be discomfort, but severe distress and prolonged suffering.

An additional 31 sloths reportedly died under their care from a range of causes, including vitamin deficiencies and gastrointestinal issues.

Torn from Their Homes to Suffer

These animals shouldn’t have died—because they shouldn’t have been taken from their rainforest homes and families to begin with. Because of Sloth World—and the indoor petting zoo business at large—they were forced through a terrifying journey spanning thousands of miles, only to be left in a barren warehouse designed to store vehicles, not house living, feeling animals. Some reportedly arrived already dead, and others died shortly after their arrival.

In nature, sloths live quiet, independent lives high in the forest canopy, where they hang upside down, sleep for much of the day, and slowly munch on leaves, twigs, and buds. Roadside zoos, petting zoos, and other cruel “attractions” are hellholes for these highly sensitive animals. The constant stress—from disrupted sleep, frequent handling, loud noises, and crowds of strangers—can be overwhelming, leaving them vulnerable to illness and injury.

What About the Surviving Sloths?

The remaining sloths from Sloth World weren’t in much better condition. Several of them were reportedly transferred to the accredited Central Florida Zoo, where staff are now working to stabilize them. According to reports, one of the sloths has already died—and the other 12 are receiving care to keep them alive. 

What You Can Do

Never visit a roadside zoo, petting zoo, or any other facility that condemns animals to deplorable conditions—or allows direct contact between visitors and captive wild animals. Speak up against these cruel facilities today: