{"id":253079,"date":"2026-04-30T22:17:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T22:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/253079\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T22:17:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T22:17:07","slug":"mass-deaths-at-sloth-world-prompt-peta-cruelty-complaint-to-florida-law-enforcement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/253079\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass Deaths at Sloth World Prompt PETA Cruelty Complaint to Florida Law Enforcement"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For Immediate Release:
April 30, 2026<\/p>\n

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\tOrlando, Fla. \u2013 <\/p>\n

Following the reported deaths of 52 sloths\u201421 of whom died in an unheated warehouse linked to the now-defunct \u201cSloth World Orlando\u201d\u2014PETA submitted a\u00a0complaint<\/a>\u00a0this morning to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement calling for a cruelty investigation into company co-owners Peter Bandre and Benjamin Agresta. Since those earlier 21 deaths, 31 additional sloths have reportedly died under their care since 2024 from various causes, including vitamin deficiencies and gastrointestinal issues.<\/p>\n

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspection records obtained by PETA, the 21 sloths died within 5 days of their arrival from Guyana in December 2024 to Bandre\u2019s and Agresta\u2019s warehouse, which reportedly lacked heat, electricity, and running water. The site was not authorized to house animals, prompting a safety inspector to issue a \u201cstop work\u201d order last week, essentially shuttering the outfit ahead of its planned spring opening.<\/p>\n

\"sloth\"sloth<\/a>In nature, sloths spend over 90 percent of their lives in trees. Credit: iStock.com\/Wirestock<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/a>Sloths owned by Sloth World died in the dark inside these cages. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspection report (March 19, 2026)<\/p>\n

\u201cThese sloths were snatched from their rainforest homes and endured a terrifying journey thousands of miles away before being left to die in a barren warehouse equipped to store cars, not living beings,\u201d says PETA Foundation Associate General Counsel of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Jonathan Morris. \u201cWild animals are not props for roadside attractions, and PETA is calling on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to hold Bandre and Agresta accountable for their actions and ensure that they never own animals again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sloths are nocturnal animals who sleep up to 20 hours a day and spend the majority of their time alone, but those used in encounters are subjected to the stress of irregular sleep, mishandling, loud noises, and crowds of strangers\u2014which can be distressing and even leave them prone to illness and injury.<\/p>\n

PETA encourages everyone to\u00a0take action against cruel animal encounters<\/a>\u00a0and to never interact with wild animals or visit roadside zoos.<\/p>\n

PETA\u2014whose motto reads, in part, that \u201canimals are not ours to use for entertainment\u201d\u2014points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a sloth is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit\u00a0PETA.org<\/a>\u00a0or follow PETA on\u00a0X<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>, or\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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