ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Newly obtained records by Orange County Community Correspondent, Jayna Manohalal show another 21 sloths died while under the care of Sloth World, bringing the total number of known sloth deaths connected to the facility to 55.<\/p>\n
The 178 pages of records, obtained from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, include necropsy reports detailing the deaths of sloths housed by Sloth World.<\/p>\n
The newly released records are separate from previous documents obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, which detailed the deaths of 31 sloths.<\/p>\n
Based on dates listed in the reports, Sloth World continued bringing in additional sloths while the FWC investigation was underway.<\/p>\n
The documents show many of the sloths died from gastrointestinal or stomach-related issues.<\/p>\n
Last week, Haley Straub with Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens told Orange County Community Correspondent, Jayna Manohalal, that sloths are highly sensitive animals that can develop health complications from stress.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing I would like to say is that adult sloths don\u2019t like to be touched,\u201d Straub said previously.<\/p>\n
The records also show the same veterinarian, Jennifer Lane, submitted multiple necropsy reports tied to the deaths.<\/p>\n
After locating an address listed in the documents, Orange County Community Correspondent, Jayna Manohalal, contacted Lane by phone.<\/p>\n
Lane said she is not a registered exotic veterinarian and primarily works with dogs and cats.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I only work with dogs and cats,\u201d Lane told Orange County Community Correspondent, Jayna Manohalal, \u201cI\u2019m not board certified in exotics and was told Sloth World that from the beginning that I really don\u2019t know much about exotics and that they needed to find an exotic specialist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lane said Ben Agresta, CEO of Sloth World, required her to sign a nondisclosure agreement about a month after she began working with the company, limiting what she could publicly discuss.<\/p>\n
When asked whether she was shocked by the number of deaths, Lane said learning the sloths were wild-caught changed her perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cHindsight, no since I didn\u2019t know they were wild caught,\u201d Lane said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing that they\u2019re wild caught, like, pulled out of the forest and then shipped across the world \u2026 I\u2019m not surprised that they have so many issues,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The latest revelations come after the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens announced Tuesday that another sloth it received from Sloth World, Dumpling, had died. The zoo previously announced the deaths of two other sloths, Bandit and Habanero, last week.<\/p>\n
The deaths of those three sloths bring the total number of known sloth deaths connected to Sloth World to 55.<\/p>\n
Questions remain about whether criminal charges could be filed in connection with the investigation.<\/p>\n
According to the Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, officials are still determining which agency would be best suited to lead the investigation.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Anna Eskamani is expected to hold a news conference Wednesday morning calling for further investigation into the facility.<\/p>\n
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