Orlando, Florida – Dozens of sloths imported from South America died in an unheated Florida warehouse where they were being held before going to the still unopened Sloth World attraction in Orlando. The ill-fated sloths were plucked from their homes in Guyana and flown to Orlando; there 21 died in a cold warehouse that lacked electricity. Ten more sloths were flown up from Peru, but two were dead on arrival and the remaining were emaciated and died shortly thereafter.
As reported by Orlando Weekly, an extension cord meant to power the facility was drawing power from another building, but the space heaters intended to warm the warehouse repeatedly tripped the circuit, cutting power and leaving the sloths without warmth. A Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Incident Report also cites problems with the cages for the sloths – read more here.
Conditions at the holding facility have supposedly improved, but there are other issues that continue to plague the sloths who are being removed from their native habitat. According to Orlando Weekly, a deadly virus has been spreading through the holding warehouse, and little is known about an effective treatment.
Sloth World still isn’t open and it is unclear if they will actually open their doors in light of the deadly problems that have plagued the attraction.
independent investigations and reporting.
26 Comments
It should be illegal for them to be taken from their native environment.
these people must be sentenced to death by beheading
these people must be sentenced to death by beheading
The evil people responsible for this sickening cruelty must hang! We want justice for these poor animals!!!
Sloths belong in the wild . Not in an amusement Park. They are not here to entertain us. These people who stated sloth world need to get a real job. Not abuse innocent animals.
Sloths belong in the wild . Not in an amusement Park. They are here to entertain us. These people who stated sloth world need to get a real job. Not abuse innocent animals.
They are not here to entertain us . sorry
leave the animals in their habitats.
worthless deaths
Heartbreaking how hurtful is human ignorance
Leave them where they belong … in the wild . They are not for our entertainment. So sad and there was no need for their deaths .Im appalled that this is allowed to happen .
The sloths never should have been removed from their natural habitat. Attractions like this that exploit animals need to be eliminated. This place should never be allowed to open.
Barbaric. IGNORANT. Stupidity. Ill-prepared. Abuse. Despicable behavior. No One trained or RESPONSIBLE.? You have now wiped out an entire generation of sloth through your total Ignorance, Stupidity and lack of proper preparedness, for what? Your disgusting GREED and AVARICE. These precious wild crearures Should Not have been allowed to enter because they are Not native. They had No quarantine and were carrying disease. The Company who did this, order this, should be fined and held responsible for problems if it spreads.
COMPASSION WORKS INTERNATIONAL (CWI) is one organization that has been fighting this case – this is their latest update – SLOTH WORLD IS NO MOR!!!!!! —
After we sent our last update, CWI learned that Sloth World has turned over 13 sloths to the Central Florida Zoo, where they will be quarantined, medically assessed, and treated.
Ben Agresta, owner of Sloth World, told a local news outlet that Sloth World will never open and is headed for bankruptcy.
CWI is still seeking clarity on whether these 13 sloths represent all those remaining from the Sloth World warehouse, and whether any additional deaths have occurred in recent days. Central Florida Zoo CEO Richard Glover has stated, “we will be very lucky if all of [the 13] do survive.” It remains to be seen how many deaths Sloth World is ultimately responsible for.
Thank you for taking immediate action. While the USDA may not need to assess a Sloth World license application, your messages have ensured that USDA staff are aware of the individuals behind this operation. If they attempt to apply again under a different name, that awareness matters.
What’s next? We will continue to monitor the activities of Agresta and his former partner, Peter Bandre, to ensure they do not attempt to open another roadside zoo. We have also offered to partner with sloth conservation groups to help prevent tragedies like this in the future.
While we are gratified by this outcome, the deaths of at least 31 sloths and the captivity of the remaining animals is an absolute tragedy. These special, sensitive animals belonged in the wild where they were born — not in a warehouse, and not in captivity
Carrie LeBlanc, M.A.
Executive Director, CompassionWorks International
Let those 3 men and everyone involved with those innocent slothes deaths DIE
This disgusts me! Animal cruelty, abuse and neglect laws need to be stronger and punishments more severe and enforced! Why can’t people just leave wild animals alone????? Let them live their lives the way they are supposed to. This is horrible!
THESE SPECIAL BEAUTIFUL CREATURES MUST BE ‘FREE’ NOT A TOURIST ATTRACTION TO BE STARRED AT!!
THEY ARE GOD’S BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS NOT OURS??????
STOP!!!! CATCHING THEM STOP!!! KIDNAPPING THEM !!!
THEY ARE NOT YOURS THEY MUST BE FREE!!!!
I have to agree with all the comments already submitted. Why are humans never called out on these things? Why is so little attention given to mass murder – which is what it is. Nonhumans have no hope of being afforded the respect and attention that will save them from cruelty and possible ultimate extinction. As stated in a previous commentary – why are we using these beautiful beings for our entertainment? Why do we rip them from their homes and send them halfway around the world – for what? You can’t believe in a god if you think he/she would allow the decimation of his/her creations. Something as egregious as this, and other incidents just like it, don’t even make it to the newspapers.
Taking all wildlife out of its habitat should be illegal, not just endangered species. Trafficking in animals for human entertainment needs to be banned and anyone caught doing it should go to jail for life, no parole, and be stripped of all assets they have. Humans are decimating this planet every day of the year. It will be interesting to see what happens when nothing is left and humans have to really fight to survive in a destroyed world.
Taking all wildlife out of its habitat should be illegal, not just endangered species. Trafficking in animals for human entertainment needs to be banned and anyone caught doing it should go to jail for life, no parole, and be stripped of all assets they have. Humans are decimating this planet every day of the year. It will be interesting to see what happens when nothing is left and humans have to really fight to survive in a destroyed world.
The owner of this “Sloth World” (aka death trap and hell hole for innocent, stolen sloths) is Ben Agresta. I’ve read a lot of articles on this and for some reason I can’t fathom, the owner isn’t being called out or mentioned by name!!! WHY IN THE HELL ARE ALL THESE “NEWS RESOURCES” protecting this evil son of a bitch??? Finally found 1 – Fox35Orlando finally mentioned his name – but they try to make it sound like he’s a victim! The poor bastard is going to have to file for bankruptcy and he’s trying to say they died from a virus and not from the cold!! IF HE HADN’T BEEN TRAFFICKING IN STOLEN SLOTHS, THEY WOULDN’T HAVE DIED AT ALL YOU EVIL, STUPID PIECE OF SHIT!!!
yep
Fuck them! Wrong species gone.
right on
stop using animals to entertain humans!!! can’t humans find something ELSE to entertain themselves??? as soon as money is involved, animal welfare goes right out the window. all humans are interested in is financial gain. disgusting!!!
LEAVE WILD ANIMALS IN WILD!! YOU KILLED 10 SLOTHS FOR THE ALMIGHTY BUCK!! YOU MURDERING BASTARDS!! LEAVE ANIMALS IN THE WILD!! ARE YOU STUPID!! WILD ANIMALS ARE NOT OURS TO OWN, THAT’S WHY THEY ARE WILD!!
What is wrong with you monsters?! Leave the wild animals alone!! They do not belong in animal shows!! You killed ten innocent sloths for the Almighty buck!! You disgusting disgraceful murders!! LEAVE WILD ANIMALS IN THE WILD WERE THEY BELONG!!!! YOU ARE STUPID!!!!!