We’re now at 232 signatures since April 30, and this week brought a wave of responses from elected officials. Unfortunately, none of them has been helpful. Every reply so far has been a polite version of “thank you, now go away.”
1. Senator Rick Scott’s Reply
We received a long, generic letter that never once mentioned sloths, the 55 deaths, the investigation, FWC, the zoo, or the failures that allowed this to happen. It was a political biography, not an answer.
We wrote back — respectfully but unimpressed — restating that this is not a general inquiry. This is about:
55 preventable deaths
conflicting findings between FWC and experts
lawmakers saying criminal charges are possible
and the need for oversight or legislation
We asked directly whether his office will review the matter or support policy changes. We’ll see if he chooses to actually address the issue.
2. The Governor’s Office
The reply from the Governor’s office was a simple redirect to FWC and the Legislature. No acknowledgment of the deaths. No acknowledgment of the investigation. No acknowledgment of the failures. Just a “contact someone else.”
Again — polite, but a clear brush‑off.
3. Representative Anna Eskamani
We have not received a direct reply from her office. She is in the middle of a mayoral campaign, which — if she wins — removes her from lawmaking entirely. Her social media is active, but social media is not legislation or accountability.
Her public posts recap what we already know:
55 sloths are dead
Necropsies show slow, painful deaths
Sloth World will never open
FWC is forming a task force to review rules
A criminal probe is still active
A review is good — but it is not justice, and it is not action. It is simply the next step.
4. The Owners — and the Lack of Charges
Let’s be clear and name them again:
Peter Bandre
Ben Agresta
These are the individuals connected to Sloth World Orlando.
As of today, no charges have been filed. Why? Because agencies are still determining:
whether current laws allow prosecution
whether FWC’s actions complicate the case
whether the deaths meet the legal threshold for “willful” abuse
and whether civil violations can be escalated into criminal ones
This is exactly why pressure matters. Without it, cases like this quietly fade.
5. The Bigger Picture
Politicians move from “cause of the day” to “cause of the week” faster than a Ben & Jerry’s rotation. Cameras on? They’re there. Social media engagement? They’re there. Actual follow‑through? That’s where things fall apart.
We’re not endorsing anyone.
We’re not impressed by statements.
We’re not here for political branding.
We’re here because 55 sloths died, and the survivors are still fighting at the Central Florida Zoo.
We keep going.
We keep pushing.
We keep the spotlight exactly where it belongs.
We bring the guilty to justice.