31 sloths die in Florida before opening of attraction
Florida wildlife officials are investigating the deaths of dozens of sloths intended for a planned Sloth World attraction after many succumbed to poor conditions in a warehouse
Florida wildlife officials have launched an investigation into the deaths of 31 sloths that were intended for a planned attraction called Sloth World. According to a newly released report from authorities, the animals died either during transport from South America or while being held in a Florida warehouse before the facility could open to the public. The investigation follows the discovery of the animals in a facility that was reportedly ill-equipped to house them.[1][2]
The sloths were shipped from Guyana and Peru to the Florida site. Authorities stated that while some of the animals arrived in the United States already deceased, many others died due to the specific conditions at the storage facility. The warehouse where the animals were kept reportedly lacked both power and running water, which officials believe contributed significantly to the high mortality rate among the animals.[1][2]
The report highlights that many of the sloths succumbed to cold stun, a condition caused by exposure to low temperatures, while being held in the warehouse. This facility was intended to serve as a temporary holding area before the opening of the Sloth World attraction. Wildlife officials are continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding the shipment and the lack of basic utilities at the warehouse site.[2]
