*No Generative AI was used in the making of this Blog Post.*
Man oh man, while Sir Bean was on medical leave, big things have been going down in the world of sloth advocacy, and you NEED to know about it!
My biggest hope that all Sir Bean fans have had their eyes on The Sloth Institute and Sloth Conservation Foundation's pages–but if you've fallen behind on the sloth advocacy campaign, never fear! Sir Bean is here to give you the breakdown of everything that's happened since January 2026 (technically winter 2024). Lock in fellas, 'cause this one is a doozy.
Let's start with Sloth World Orlando, what is it?
What is Sloth World?
(photos source: CBS12 News)
Sloth World Orlando was (yes 'was.' Sloth World has officially closed its doors in April 2026. woohoo!) a wildlife entertainment center that claimed itself to be the world's only "slotharium." What does that mean? Think aquarium but it's all just sloths. For $49 a ticket, Sloth World promised its prospective visitors a unique, no-touch experience with a guided tour through the sloths' enclosures.
Hidden behind the guise of "ethical conservation," Sloth World Orlando imported several dozens of sloths from Peru and Guyana for its tours, falsely claiming partnerships with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and rescue centers in Central America. All parties have denied relation to Sloth World Orlando. The imported sloths were to be held in a regulated warehouse in Orlando before moving to their final destination. However, the majority of the sloths would not make it beyond this warehouse; even worse, some sloths did not live long enough to even see the warehouse.
Read a detailed breakdown of Sloth World in this article by Sloth Conservation Foundation.
According to Inside Climate News, On December 9th 2024, the FWC received a message of concern from a citizen regarding a job opening for a new place called Sloth World. In response, the agency checked the permits of Sloth World and approved the business moving forward with the wildlife imports.
Sloth World imported its first set of sloths (21, 2-fingered sloths) on December 18th, 2024. All sloths died shortly after their arrival. In mid-February 2025, Sloth World received 10 more sloths at their warehouse, in which 2 were dead on arrival with the remaining 8 dying shortly after. While reports of concern continued to come forward to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, it did not conduct its first full investigation until August 2025 (Inside Climate News).
A Timeline of The Sloth Institute & Sloth Conservation Foundations Campaign Towards Greater Wildlife Trade Regulations and Conservation Transparency
January 2026
After receiving several reports of concerns of animal abuse at Sloth World, The Sloth Institute and Sloth Conservation Foundation came together to launch investigations and a campaign against the maltreatment and importing of sloths in the newly developed sloth entertainment site. On January 21st, The Sloth Institute and Sloth Conservation Foundation publish a joint press release raising very serious concerns of the welfare of the wild sloths in captivity. They also spoke out against the false claims Sloth World Orlando made about being a conservation-based business.
Read this powerful statement by Sloth Conservation Foundation's Founder, Rebecca Cliffe:
“Supporting rescue centers does not change the fact that sloths were taken from the wild for commercial display. Conservation cannot be retrofitted onto models that rely on wildlife removal. There is no justification in 2026 for acquiring wild sloths for exhibition...As the director of a non-profit conservation organization, I really do understand the importance of funding and how important it is for sustaining conservation work. However, conservation organizations also have a responsibility to define what ethical fundraising looks like.”
The press release also calls for the transparency of all conservation groups, new regulatory scrutiny under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and stronger industry standards.
March 2026
According to a timeline developed by Inside Climate News, The Department of Agriculture reached out to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) with greater concern about Sloth World Orlando on March 18th, 2026. Sloth World Orlando had not received its Animal Welfare Act license yet. And, according to information provided by Peter Bandre, an employee at Sloth World, Benjamin Argesta, the owner of Sloth World, had already made $500k on advance ticket sales alone (Inside Climate News)–despite continuously pushing back the opening date.
in mid-March, the FWC does another investigation into Sloth World. Rick Brown, the FWC investigator assigned to the case, reports back that the agency should allow Sloth World to move forward with licenses to import more sloths because, as Internal FWC notes state,"[he] has been working with Mr. Bandre to revive both permits since vast improvements have been made to the facility." He pushes for the FWC to close out the case as he has already dealt with it.
However, Bandre was fired from Sloth World in early March. When he left Sloth World, the permits for importing and displaying wildlife left with him. According the Inside Climate News, an FWC official pushed for Argesta to be issued USDA and importing permits in an email sent on March 20th (Inside Climate News). Despite all of the glaring red flags and concerning reports from the former staff of Sloth World itself, the FWC, especially Rick Brown, seemed extremely insistent on continuing sloth importations to the site.
The lack of action against the inhumane treatment and mass death of sloths in Sloth World's captivity cause Inside Climate News, The Sloth Institute, and Sloth Conservation Foundation to raise greater alarm and push harder to expose the truth behind Sloth World.
April 2026
On April 16th, an article written by Katie Surma from Inside Climate News sparked public outrage after releasing a Captive Wildlife Incident Report, from August 2025, by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) that found the following information:
1.) Two of the six sloths at the facility at the time were in cages that were too small and did not meet regulation. The report states that "neither the animal nor the cage was marked and traceable to written records that indicated when these sloths were placed within these smaller cages" (Incident Report 156501, Captive Wildlife Report).
2.) An inquiry was made on the deaths of 31 sloths between December 2024 and February 2025 in which the following information was released:
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- There was an order placed for 21 sloths, 15, 2-fingered sloths & 6, 3-fingered sloths from Guyana and 10, 2-fingered sloths from Peru.
- The 21 sloths from Guyana died due to a “Cold Stun.”
- The warehouse was not properly set and ready to receive sloths during Florida's cold season, which is December 2024
- Two sloths from Peru were dead on arrival and the remaining 8 sloths later succumbed to poor health.
Inside Climate News reports that "Sloth World has continued importing wild sloths through a related business, Sanctuary World Imports, acquiring at least 38 more wild sloths in addition to the initial 31 that died, according to government permit records."
(Photo Source: "(2) cages too small for the sloth contained individually in each one," photo taken by officer for Captive Wildlife Incident Report 156501)
Inside Climate News later reports in an article released in July 2026 that the above incident report carried out by Rick Brown was missing some key pieces of information. For example, there were 7 sloths not accounted for in the report and 2 sloths died 10 days after the inspection. Brown and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission state that despite the mass deaths of the imported sloths, the "business's actions 'did not meet the legal standard for animal cruelty' under Florida law"(Sloth Conservation Foundation). Sloth World was given a gentle slap on the wrist warning, and were allowed to continue their business.
According to internal Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) notes, pressures from former employees at Sloth World initiated another investigation by Rick Brown on April 21st, 2026. The FWC notes that the facility seems well maintained, but there were only 2 people on staff upon arrival caring for the sloths and there were only half of the number of sloths seen on March 9th during the last investigation. There was no explanation as to why the sloths were missing or where they were. Additionally, the vet on staff had quit, and the team was still looking for a replacement.
On April 20th, Orlando Shine publishes an article by Brendan O'Connor, in which the following comment was shared on reddit thread "r/orlando" by a former Sloth World Employee:
"Hello, I naively accepted a position there late 2025. I was there for a month, and in that time over 20 sloths died, with admittance that over 30 had died december of 2024. Needless to say I quit and never looked back. The scary thing is, they genuinely think they are helping. Photo for evidence. It is bad. Do not support this place and tell others to not support this place. I fully support arranging a protest opening week"
(Photo posted by Rora_The_Explora in addition to comment on Reddit post r/orlando "OVER 30 Sloths DEAD at Orlando's new "slotharium" Sloth World")
O'Connor writes that another former employee reported anonymously that their first tour of the facility was disorienting, the level of conservation experience and knowledge of sloths Agresta had was minimal, and there was little transparency of where the sloths were being sourced from and how they were obtained (O'Connor, Orlando Shine).
On April 30th, The Sloth Institute releases an extensive analysis on the abuses at Sloth World Orlando. The report breaks down the different contributing factors to the mass mortality event at the warehouse that stored the sloths for Sloth World Orlando. The report documents harsh environmental factors, high levels of stress, and viral and systemic illnesses in its diagnostic findings. The results of the analysis are astonishing and hard to sit with, so take a deep breath before you read!
Read the Full TSI Analysis Report on Sloth World Orlando HERE
Additional Read: Learn how diseases in animals in wildlife trade can pose a dangerous threat of pandemics & more in this extensive article by Inside Climate News
Sloth World finally closes its doors permanently due to the mass critique and reports against their facility. At this point, it is discovered that at least 55 of the 60+ sloths in their captivity have died. The surviving 13 sloths are transported into the management of AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP), where they will be transferred to long-term care. Unfortunately, because many of the sloths were found in poor health with potentially harmful genetic conditions, they will not be able to return to the wild, living the rest of their lives in human captivity. Sloths live roughly 50+ years.
May 2026
The first direct regulatory response to Sloth World Orlando's Case, according to reports from The Sloth Institute, occurs in which The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission issues a temporary 60-day Executive Order halting all import of sloths into the state of Florida. This is incredibly important because, according to The Sloth Institute, roughly 98% of all sloths imported into the United States are transported through Miami, Florida first.
June 2026
On June 19th, 2026, The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announces that, as of July 10th, all sloths species are removed from standard blanket import permits for wildlife display or sale. Any business or organization wishing to import a sloth into Florida must obtain a one-time Wildlife Importation Permit, requiring review and approval by the FWC before it can enter Florida. After event import, the entity must reapply for a permit.
In an interview with Central Florida Public Media, Rebecca Cliffe, founder of Sloth Conservation Foundation, states that, while Florida categorizes imported animals by the danger they pose to humans, "there's no classification there for the danger that we pose to the animal, and sloths are kind of a really good flagship species for that issue, because ... you know the threat that we pose to them is enormous." (Joe Byrons, "Experts recommend import ban, new FWC rules after Sloth World's animal deaths," Central Florida Public Media).
(Photo of The Sloth Institute Founder, Sam Trull, and Sloth Conservation Foundation Founder, Rebecca Cliffe speaking at a press hearing outside of Sloth World Orlando, May 2026. Source: Sloth Conservation Foundation Website).
Cliffe's statement holds great resonance in the conversation around conservation. In the natural, uncolonized world, the sloth's biggest predators are the jaguar and harpy eagle. However, due to mass levels of urbanization and deforestation, human activity causes the greatest devastation to the sloth species.
In a capitalist society like the United States, we are taught to judge something's value based on what we can take from it, what we can glean from its presence among us before anything else. The classifications that the FWC places on animals reflects this destructive mindset. We categorize based on how the animals actions may affect us, and disregard how we may affect the animal, and the world outside of us. The consequences can be catastrophic–for the animal, for its species, for the environment, and for our own selves.
Today (August 1st, 2026)
Sam Trull of The Sloth Institute and Rebecca Cliffe of Sloth Conservation Foundation remind us that, while its good to celebrate the work thats been done, there is still a long way to go to protect sloths.
Central Florida Public Media lists 5 policy changes the Sloth Protection Alliance proposes:
- Impose a ban on the importation of wild-caught sloths
- Lift sloths out of the general Class III category for captive wildlife and create specific regulations that would include specially trained sloth caretakers and veterinarians. Sloths must be tracked with comprehensive record-keeping overseen by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- Require mandatory reporting of sloth deaths, births, sales and transfers
- Prohibit direct-contact sloth encounter experiences,
- Make sure that sloths born to females imported while pregnant don't automatically qualify as captive-bred animals
Through these measures, the Sloth Protection Alliance aims to keep sloths wild, and expand the bans and regulations nation-wide in the United States.
How Can You Help?
Donate to the Campaign!
The Sloth Institute and Sloth Conservation Foundation are two non-profits with small staff who work overtime to care for sloths and advocate for wildlife conservation. With a campaign this huge, their teams are working harder than ever and rely on our donations to move the work forward!
The coalition hopes to raise roughly $30,000 to cover the costs of the following:
- Legal consultations
- Policy development
- Travel to meet with lawmakers and wildlife agencies
- Public records requests and investigative work
- Scientific and technical consultation
- Sequencing the genomes of the surviving sloths to identify where they were captured from in the wild
DONATE HERE!!!!
Sign the Petition
Let your voice be heard! Over 7300 people have signed the petition to Ban the Import of Wild Sloths into the United States for Commercial Use. Let's reach 10k!!!!
SIGN THE PETITION HERE!!!!
Stay Educated!
Learn more about why sloth make bad pets in this article by Sloth Conservation Foundation.
Thinking about booking a sloth encounter experience? Think again. Read about why sloth encounter experiences are harmful and dangerous to sloths in this article by Sloth Conservation Foundation
Read about how to choose an ethical wildlife tour in this article by Sloth Conservation Foundation
Stay up to date on the campaign by following The Sloth Institute and Sloth Conservation Foundation on social media.
This blog post only scratches the surface of the Sloth World conflict. Please, please, please keep reading!
and of course...
SUPPORT THE SLOTHS!!!!!!
With love,
Sir Bean the Sloth
READ MORE
(Sources)
From the Sloth Institute & Sloth Conservation Foundation
From More News Resources:
"31 sloths died at Sloth World Orlando warehouse: FWC report," Fox35 Orlando
Official Reports & Government Documentation
"Captive Wildlife Report" of Sanctuary Wildlife Imports in Orlando Florida
"Species Survival Plan Programs," Association of Zoos & Aquariums
*NO AI WAS USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS BLOG!
JP & Sir Bean think it is incredibly important as supporters of wildlife conservation that we take the time to read articles in depth and exercise our critical thinking skills by writing articles word by word on our own.