Florida wildlife officials have released a report detailing the deaths of 31 sloths that were imported from South America for a planned tourist attraction in Orlando. The sloths died between December 2024 and February 2025 while being held in a storage warehouse.

According to an incident report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the mammals were procured from Peru and Guyana by the owners of a forthcoming attraction called Sloth World. The animals died from what officials described as 'cold stun' while housed in a warehouse that lacked power and running water.

The sloths, described as tree dwellers native to South American rainforests, were intended for display at the controversial tourist attraction in Orlando. The FWC report indicates that the deaths occurred over a two-month period in what appears to have been inadequate housing conditions.

Wildlife officials are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the planned Sloth World attraction. The incident raises questions about the preparation and care standards for exotic animals intended for commercial display facilities.

The deaths highlight ongoing concerns about the importation and housing of wild animals for entertainment purposes, particularly species that require specific environmental conditions to survive in captivity.