Sloth World Orlando, a planned sloth park in Orlando, Florida, has been at the center of a controversy after 31 sloths died before the park could open. The deaths, which occurred between December 2024 and February 2025, have prompted Congressman Maxwell Frost to demand a federal investigation, according to Expressen. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported that more than two dozen sloths under Sloth World's care died, with 21 dying shortly after arriving in December 2024.
The sloths were ordered in two shipments: one from Guyana arrived December 18, 2024, and another from Peru arrived February 2025. They were housed in a warehouse near the park, designed for receiving and raising sloths before transfer to the public exhibit. Under Florida statute, Sloth World had no obligation to report the deaths, which only came to light during a routine inspection in August 2025 when FWC inquired about the deaths.
Congressman Maxwell Frost demands that federal authorities investigate the matter.
com. He stated that the sloths died from a virus that showed barely any symptoms and was undetectable even after necropsy. Agresta also said he has no plans to open Sloth World and will likely file for bankruptcy protection.
However, a previous co-owner told FWC that the warehouse was not ready for the incoming sloths, but it was too late to cancel the shipment. The co-owner alleged that the building did not have running water or electricity for a time. Space heaters were purchased and powered via extension cord from another building, but the fuse tripped, leaving sloths without heat for at least one night.
Ben Agresta, owner of Sloth World, denied reports that the sloths died from cold-stun or other reasons.
On Dec. 22, the coldest recorded temperature was 46 degrees, with an average of 56, according to the FWC report. More than a dozen sloths from Sloth World were donated to the Central Florida Zoo, which will evaluate them and work with the Species Survival Plan Program to find long-term homes at other AZA-accredited facilities.
In other news, Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is leaving the negotiations, according to the Times of Israel and Channel 12. Channel 12 reported that Ghalibaf was forced to resign by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. He will not participate in the next round of peace talks in Pakistan, according to multiple reports.
Agresta stated that the sloths died from a virus that showed barely any symptoms and was undetectable even after necropsy.
The departure marks a significant shift in Iran's negotiating stance, though the exact reasons remain unclear. Train traffic between Stockholm and Uppsala has been completely halted after a train driver believed they hit someone or something, according to police spokesperson Robert Sennerdal. Emergency services are searching along the track with police assistance, but around 40 minutes after the alarm at 22:00, nothing has been found.
The stop is between Ulriksdal and Helenelund stations and affects commuter trains, long-distance trains, Arlanda Express, and regional trains. The object or person hit remains unknown. A car caught fire after an accident just outside Jönköping, according to police.
Agresta said he has no plans to open Sloth World and will likely file for bankruptcy protection.
Police, rescue services, and ambulance are on scene with multiple units. Aftonbladet reports that five people were reportedly in the car. It is currently unknown if anyone was seriously injured.
A prank call to 112 about a fight at a middle school disco was received, according to police. The call sounded serious but was then disconnected. When the operator called back, it turned out to be a prank.
Police still went to the scene to check that everyone was okay. ' A report of a false alarm has been filed. One person was injured in an ATV accident in Sollefteå, according to P4 Västernorrland.
An ambulance helicopter and rescue services were called to the scene. Later, SOS Alarm reported that the helicopter returned without a patient, but an ambulance remained on scene, according to Tidningen Ångermanland. The condition of the injured person is not known.
Sweden's government, led by Energy Minister Ebba Busch (KD), wants to expand nuclear power. UK Business Minister Peter Kyle stated that talks are underway with Sweden about buying mini nuclear reactors manufactured by Rolls-Royce. Kyle said: 'I am in advanced talks with Sweden.
' Rolls-Royce's small modular reactors (SMRs) are seen as a breakthrough because they can be manufactured in factories and then assembled on site, dramatically reducing costs. The status of the negotiations remains unclear.