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Dozens of sloths bound for Orlando’s Sloth World died after many were left in an unheated warehouse, according to a Captive Wildlife Report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.Details of the 2024 and 2025 deaths of the 31 exotic animals are included in an August 2025 report of an unannounced routine inspection of the warehouse that was holding the sloths.The sloths died before they were to be sent to the attraction on International Drive, which has yet to open. What happened to the sloths?Peter Bandre is listed as the licensee for Sanctuary World Imports, which was housing the sloths at the warehouse. Bandre told FWC officials that in 2024, he placed orders for 21 sloths (15 2-toed sloths and six 3-toed sloths) from Guyana, as well as 10 2-toed sloths from Peru.”The 21 sloths died due to, what Mr. Bandre called, a ‘Cold Stun,'” the report says. Bandre said the warehouse was not properly set up and ready to receive sloths during the cold period in Florida in December 2024. He added that his partner had told him the building was ready. He told FWC when he got to the warehouse ahead of the arrival of 21 sloths, “the building had no water and no electricity. It was not ready to receive the sloths but it was too late to cancel the shipment.”Bandre said multiple space heaters were purchased but had to be powered with an extension cord from a different building, which tripped the fuse and shut down.”It appears that at least for one night, the sloths were in the cold building without heat,” the report says. “There was no one present overnight to correct this.”On Dec. 22, 2024, the minimal recorded temperature was 46 degrees with the average for the day at 56 degrees, the report says. Bandre said months later, 10 sloths from Peru arrived on Feb. 19, 2025, but two were dead on arrival and the remainder “appeared emaciated and in very poor health.”The remaining eight sloths from Peru died. Where were the sloths kept?The August 2025 inspection report describes the cages and conditions at the warehouse: Cages measure 4’10” X 10’ X 8’05”Cages are made of metal framing and chain-link fabric and are sitting atop wooden framing to raise the roof height above the floor.Shade cloth on the chain-link is installed to provide the sloths with a sense of seclusion. There are several pieces of bamboo strung throughout each cage to provide for climbing and movement. Elevated cloth perches and nesting dens in the form of large buckets are provided. Several stainless steel water bowls are provided in each cage. Leafy vegetation, like kale, was observed to be hung from the ceiling. The vegetation is also misted with water to provide the sloths with alternative opportunities to drink water.Other food items available include squash, spring mix leafy salad, leaf eater biscuits as well as several other types of plants being grown on site. Bandre told FWC that climate-controlling devices have been installed, including space heaters, wall-mounted A/C-heater units, a large humidifier, ceiling fans and atmosphere sensors that are networked and connected to a cellphone app.Sloths were at the warehouse at the time of the inspection, but some “were in cages that did not meet captive wildlife requirements and the marking/labeling of the animal or the cage had not been done in compliance.”The report says a “verbal warning for this captive wildlife discrepancy was issued.”Sloth World Orlando It’s unclear if and when Sloth World will open. Its website says it is under construction.The website’s description says “Journey through a tropical habitat where a snuggle of sloths live their slowest, happiest lives!”
Dozens of sloths bound for Orlando’s Sloth World died after many were left in an unheated warehouse, according to a Captive Wildlife Report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Details of the 2024 and 2025 deaths of the 31 exotic animals are included in an August 2025 report of an unannounced routine inspection of the warehouse that was holding the sloths.
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The sloths died before they were to be sent to the attraction on International Drive, which has yet to open.
What happened to the sloths?
Peter Bandre is listed as the licensee for Sanctuary World Imports, which was housing the sloths at the warehouse.
Bandre told FWC officials that in 2024, he placed orders for 21 sloths (15 2-toed sloths and six 3-toed sloths) from Guyana, as well as 10 2-toed sloths from Peru.
“The 21 sloths died due to, what Mr. Bandre called, a ‘Cold Stun,'” the report says.
Bandre said the warehouse was not properly set up and ready to receive sloths during the cold period in Florida in December 2024. He added that his partner had told him the building was ready.
He told FWC when he got to the warehouse ahead of the arrival of 21 sloths, “the building had no water and no electricity. It was not ready to receive the sloths but it was too late to cancel the shipment.”
Bandre said multiple space heaters were purchased but had to be powered with an extension cord from a different building, which tripped the fuse and shut down.
“It appears that at least for one night, the sloths were in the cold building without heat,” the report says. “There was no one present overnight to correct this.”
On Dec. 22, 2024, the minimal recorded temperature was 46 degrees with the average for the day at 56 degrees, the report says.
Bandre said months later, 10 sloths from Peru arrived on Feb. 19, 2025, but two were dead on arrival and the remainder “appeared emaciated and in very poor health.”
The remaining eight sloths from Peru died.
Where were the sloths kept?
The August 2025 inspection report describes the cages and conditions at the warehouse:
- Cages measure 4’10” X 10’ X 8’05”
- Cages are made of metal framing and chain-link fabric and are sitting atop wooden framing to raise the roof height above the floor.
- Shade cloth on the chain-link is installed to provide the sloths with a sense of seclusion.
- There are several pieces of bamboo strung throughout each cage to provide for climbing and movement.
- Elevated cloth perches and nesting dens in the form of large buckets are provided.
- Several stainless steel water bowls are provided in each cage.
- Leafy vegetation, like kale, was observed to be hung from the ceiling.
- The vegetation is also misted with water to provide the sloths with alternative opportunities to drink water.
- Other food items available include squash, spring mix leafy salad, leaf eater biscuits as well as several other types of plants being grown on site.
Bandre told FWC that climate-controlling devices have been installed, including space heaters, wall-mounted A/C-heater units, a large humidifier, ceiling fans and atmosphere sensors that are networked and connected to a cellphone app.
Sloths were at the warehouse at the time of the inspection, but some “were in cages that did not meet captive wildlife requirements and the marking/labeling of the animal or the cage had not been done in compliance.”
The report says a “verbal warning for this captive wildlife discrepancy was issued.”
Sloth World Orlando
It’s unclear if and when Sloth World will open. Its website says it is under construction.
