Florida Import Warehouse Faces Scrutiny After 30 Sloths Die Due to Cold and Poor Conditions
A Florida animal import warehouse, previously known as Sanctuary World Imports, has come under scrutiny following the deaths of approximately 30 sloths due to cold temperatures and inadequate conditions. According to a report by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, 21 sloths imported from Guyana died in December 2024 when temperatures at the Orlando facility dropped to between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The facility, lacking water and electricity, was unprepared to receive the animals, leading to a 'cold stun' as described by Peter Bandre, the facility's licensee at the time. Attempts to use space heaters failed when they tripped a fuse, leaving the sloths without heat. In February 2025, another shipment of 10 sloths from Peru resulted in two arriving dead and the rest dying shortly after due to 'poor health issues.' The facility has since been renamed Sloth World Inc., and Bandre is no longer associated with it. Recent inspections in March 2026 reported improvements, including independent heatin... 
