The Deadly Orlando Attraction Under Criminal Investigation After Attorney General Steps In

The Sloth World Orlando story has been escalating steadily since investigative reporting first revealed the deaths of more than 31 sloths connected to the planned International Drive attraction, and the latest development represents the most significant shift in the case yet.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed his office is assisting the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida in a criminal probe into Sloth World, officially elevating what had been a regulatory and civil matter into criminal investigation territory. The move came after Representative Anna Eskamani pushed for additional scrutiny following the FWC’s earlier conclusion that no criminal wrongdoing had occurred, a conclusion that generated immediate and sustained criticism.

Why the Attorney General Got Involved

The FWC’s prior civil investigation concluded without a citation or written warning despite the deaths of dozens of sloths, with the agency stating there was no legal basis for enforcement action and that subsequent inspections found the facility compliant with care and housing standards. That conclusion did not sit well with Eskamani or with the broader public following the story. The Florida statute that makes it a third-degree felony to own or have custody of animals in a way that results in cruel death became a focal point of the criticism directed at the FWC’s finding, and PETA sent an open letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement specifically citing that statute and requesting a criminal investigation into owner Benjamin Agresta, former vice president Peter Bandre, Sloth World, and its related business Sanctuary World Imports for apparent aggravated cruelty to animals.

Eskamani summarized the frustration that drove the push for attorney general involvement directly. If you fish in the wrong place or catch too many crabs or oysters you could face criminal charges, yet importing sloths from the wild, placing them in a warehouse, and letting dozens die results in no accountability at all under the existing framework. That inconsistency became the central argument for why higher-level intervention was necessary.

What Caused the Deaths in Orlando

FWC reports identified a combination of factors including viral infection, cold exposure, stress during transportation, and warehouse housing as likely contributors to the sloth deaths. The first shipment of 21 sloths from Guyana arrived at a warehouse that was not ready to receive them, and at least one night the animals were left without heat in cold conditions. Wildlife experts explained that sloths are uniquely vulnerable to this kind of stress because unlike most mammals they do not have a strong fight-or-flight response. Instead they internalize stress, their cortisol levels spike, and organ failure can follow. Necropsy reports documented swollen stomachs, ulcerated mouths, damaged spinal cords, organ failure, and pneumonia across the animals examined.

The Bankruptcy Filing and Federal Involvement

Alongside the confirmation of the criminal investigation, the attorney general’s letter noted that Sloth World is filing for bankruptcy protection. The company imported more than 60 wild sloths, according to import records, with 13 remaining as of late April, when they were transferred to the Central Florida Zoo. One of those 13, a three-month-old baby named Bandit who arrived in critical condition, subsequently died at the zoo.

Federal involvement has also expanded. U.S. Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate Sloth World. Governor Ron DeSantis commented on the situation at a press conference describing it as really, really weird and indicating the FWC would need to rectify whatever was the matter.

What Comes Next for Orlando

Representative Eskamani has indicated she is working across the aisle on future policy to strengthen FWC oversight including requiring that all animal deaths under applicable permits be reported publicly and establishing a pause on permit renewal until full investigations into deaths are completed. The criminal investigation is underway, the company is in bankruptcy, federal agencies are now involved, and the regulatory gaps that allowed this to happen are the subject of proposed legislative changes. The Sloth World story that started with a local inspection report is now a state and federal criminal matter with no clear end in sight.