Sloth World sheriff's probe finds no evidence of crimes in animal deaths

Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, Orlando Sentinel on Aug 19, 2026

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ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday concluded its investigation into Sloth World, finding no criminal activity linked to the deaths of at least 55 sloths at the never-opened tourist attraction on International Drive.

After an “exhaustive look” kickstarted in May, the agency said it concluded that the deaths were caused by “multiple contributing factors affecting the overall health and survivability of the animals” rather than criminal activity or improper care.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which regulates most wildlife imports in the state, similarly concluded that “the owner’s actions did not meet the legal standard for animal cruelty” and that “there was no legal basis for enforcement action or closure.”

The deceased sloths, which were largely brought from the wild in Guyana and Peru, still prompted public outrage and an effort from Orange County commissioners to clamp down on exotic animal imports locally.

But sheriff’s investigators felt that Sloth World provided “ongoing care and monitoring of the animals,” documenting adequate food, water and veterinary care. It also properly handled temperature and humidity controls in the facility where the animals were housed, the sheriff’s office added.

However, FWC earlier determined that a fuse trip left sloths in an unheated warehouse during winter for at least one night, causing some deaths.

Experts also said sloths are difficult to keep in captivity in part because they can’t regulate their body temperatures well, have very specific diets and get stressed easily.

The sheriff’s office reached a similar conclusion.

“No evidence was uncovered that showed intentional harm, abuse, criminal neglect, failure to provide necessary care, or any deliberate act or omission by facility personnel that contributed to the deaths of the animals, which are the standards required by Florida State Statutes,” it said.

Instead, investigators found the deaths were consistent with a “complex health-related event involving multiple stressors associated with the capture, transportation, acclimation, and continued care of a highly specialized species.”

The sloths were suffering from “significant medical conditions,” including respiratory, gastrointestinal, nutritional and metabolic diseases, the sheriff’s office said.

Thirteen surviving sloths were transferred to the Central Florida Zoo earlier this year with malnutrition and other critical conditions, and several have since died there, despite veterinary care.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, who is running for Orlando mayor, blames state wildlife laws, arguing they need to be strengthened.

“Dozens of sloths were captured, shipped across the world, and died, and under Florida law as it exists today, no one is held accountable,” she Eskamani wrote in a statement Friday. “That is not a failure of the investigators. It is a failure of our statutes and our rules.”

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