Florida Democrat ‘appalled’ by report 31 sloths died in storage warehouse

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) expressed disapproval of reports that 31 sloths died while in the care of Sloth World, an unopened Orlando tourist attraction, with the animals perishing in storage warehouses between December 2024 and an unspecified later date. The sloths, sourced from South American rainforests (specifically Guyana and Peru according to Guardian reporting), died from cold exposure and transport stress during an unheated warehouse storage period with no power or running water. The Hill provides basic attribution to the congressman's statement, though the article body is truncated in the metadata provided, limiting visibility into whether additional sourcing, official investigation details, or facility operator response are included. Cross-referenced reporting from NBC News, The Guardian, WESH, and Fox News corroborates the death toll and adds critical context: officials cite 'cold stun' as the primary cause following a Florida cold snap, the warehouse lacked basic utilities, and state fish and wildlife officials are investigating—details absent from The Hill excerpt shown. Watch for outcomes of the state investigation and any regulatory action against Sloth World Orlando, as well as whether the facility will be permitted to open.