Dozens of sloths died before opening of Sloth World attraction in Florida

Dozens of sloths died before opening of Sloth World attraction in Florida18 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSareen HabeshianAFP via Getty ImagesA three-toed sloth hangs from a branch at the Metropolitan Natural Park in Panama CityThirty-one sloths planned for a new "slothnarium" in Florida have died before the attraction's planned opening, authorities have found.The mammals were planned to be showcased at a permanent, public exhibit at Sloth World in Orlando, set to open this spring.Many of the sloths died due to conditions at a Florida warehouse where they'd been shipped, according to a report released on Friday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Others arrived in Florida already dead or appeared in ill health and later died, the report states.The owner of Sloth World has denied allegations in the report and said there is "so much false and inaccurate information out there right now"."The truth is, we lost sloths that had a virus of which showed barely any symptoms and was undetectable even after necropsy," Ben Agresta, the owner of Sloth World, told Fox-35 in Orlando. The BBC has contacted Sloth World, along with its listed owner and representatives. Sloth World is advertised as Orlando's only "slotharium," with a rainforest-inspired habitat "designed exclusively with sloth well-being in mind", according to its website. The report from the FWC, which was obtained by the BBC on Friday, outlines two instances the mammals dying ahead of the attraction's planned opening.In December 2024, 21 sloths shipped from Guyana died due to cold conditions at a warehouse in Florida where they were shipped, according to the FWC report. Then in February 2025, two of 10 sloths travelling from Peru arrived dead. The remaining eight "appeared emaciated" and later succumbed to "poor health issues", the report states.When FWC investigators were alerted and...