PHOTO VIA LARRY WALLACH FACEBOOK PAGE
As Florida authorities continue investigating the deaths of more than 50 sloths tied to the failed Sloth World attraction in Orlando, another exotic animal business is preparing to open in South Florida featuring sloths. Simultaneously, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced new restrictions on sloth importation in response to the Sloth World tragedy.
Larry Wallach has filed paperwork in Florida to run a new pet store and encounter business called Wildlife Adventures, featuring sloths, kangaroos, reptiles and birds. Wallach appeared before the Margate City Commission (just north of Miami) to pitch the proposed business.
The move has drawn immediate opposition from animal welfare groups citing Wallach’s track record, which is certainly not spotless. Wallach has been cited for more than 60 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, including critical violations related to lying to federal inspectors and investigations revealing staff hitting sloths. Those violations also included:
- As far back as 2003, USDA inspectors found animals stored in unsafe conditions at his East Rockaway, New York home, with tigers, lions, bears and other exotic wildlife in his garage and on his back porch.
- Lacked documentation tracking how animals were acquired, sold or disposed of.
- Displayed a juvenile tiger in an open-top, unlocked enclosure during a 2008 public exhibition in South Carolina, allowing members of the public to lean into the enclosure and handle the tethered animal’s head and neck.
- Displayed a juvenile tiger in an open-top, unlocked enclosure during a 2008 public exhibition in South Carolina, allowing members of the public to lean into the enclosure and handle the tethered animal’s head and neck.
- Wallach was documented roughly grabbing a wounded sloth.
- Was busted in a roadside encounter on Long Island with two sloths and a kangaroo in his car.
- Guilty plea for trafficking dangerous animals.
- His Long Island operation was shut down by a state judge.
- Lied to federal inspectors about a child bite incident.
Wallach no longer has a federal license after the USDA denied his application for a new one in 2024 based on an Animal Welfare Act regulation that requires the agency to deny licensing to applicants who have made false statements or violated the law. Animal activists say Wallach does not have a necessary federal license to display wild animals, no signed lease in Margate, and no animal display permits as required by city code
In response to the Sloth World deaths, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced changes to sloth ownership requirements. Beginning immediately, all entities properly permitted to own sloths will be required to obtain a Wildlife Importation Permit before importing sloths into Florida. The previous “blanket import permits” for importing Class III wildlife will no longer authorize sloth importation.
Completed permit applications must be submitted at least two weeks prior to each importation event.
Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani called the new restrictions a “small but important victory for animal welfare.” She said the policy ensures facilities meet basic standards before sloths are brought into Florida.
“Had these safeguards been in place earlier, they may have prevented suffering and saved lives,” Eskamani said.
Eskamani said her office will continue pushing for stronger protections, including a permanent ban on wild-caught sloth importation and more rigorous ownership and care requirements. Those reforms would require formal FWC rule changes and a public comment process.
A total of 61 sloths were imported to Florida for Sloth World between December 2024 and March 2026, with 31 dying in the December 2024 and February 2025 incidents. Sloths transported from South America were found to be dehydrated and underweight, among other issues.
State wildlife officials intend to reevaluate current permit rules for exotic animal importation following the deaths.
