In the weeks since news broke that more than fifty sloths died at an Orlando attraction, the fight over a proposed sloth encounter in Margate has escalated sharply. What began as a quiet business proposal has now become a documented public controversy involving activists, nonprofits, city officials, and regional media. The June 3 Margate Commission meeting made one thing clear: residents, experts, and animal‑welfare organizations are not going to allow another Orlando to happen in Broward County.

The Protest at City Hall
On June 3, about a dozen animal‑welfare advocates gathered outside Margate City Hall before the Commission meeting. They held signs referencing the Orlando deaths—“56 Dead Sloths for Orlando’s Sloth World”—and opposing the proposed Wildlife Adventures business planned for 1615 N. State Road 7. The demonstration was peaceful but tense, with a strong Margate police presence.

The protest was led by John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, who flew in from New York specifically to warn Margate officials about the dangers of sloth encounters and the documented history of the man behind the proposal, Larry Wallach.

“Sloths are not a selfie prop,” Di Leonardo said. “They belong in a rainforest environment and should not be put on display.”

Inside the Commission Meeting
Wallach did not attend the meeting. But Commissioner Tommy Ruzzano made sure his presence was felt.

Ruzzano arrived holding a giant stuffed sloth, then placed a smaller stuffed sloth on the dais in front of him. Outside City Hall, he told protesters to “just relax” and called them a “bunch of hypocrites.” Inside, he defended Wallach’s plans, saying he “loves sloths” and would “go to his store.”

Residents and activists used public comment to push back. Margate resident Ron Roberts told the Commission that Wallach “does not love these animals” and “dupes people into believing he cares about them so he can continue using them to support himself financially,” adding that “one of the people he has duped is a Margate city commissioner.”

Animal‑welfare advocates Ana Campos and Michele Lazarow also spoke, warning that sloths suffer in captivity and that Margate should not allow an animal‑display business.

Commissioner Joanne Simone took a firm stance against Wallach. She described the many allegations against him and showed two videos of Wallach treating animals harshly. Simone made clear she does not support Wildlife Adventures opening in Margate.

The Facts About Larry Wallach
Wallach is attempting to open a sloth and kangaroo encounter business in Margate despite a long and well‑documented history of violations.

USDA License: Wallach’s Class C Exhibitor License under the Animal Welfare Act was canceled in June 2024, according to a USDA inspection report. Wallach told the Miami Herald he “simply didn’t renew it,” but the federal record shows cancellation, not expiration.

Violations: Wallach has been cited for more than 60 federal Animal Welfare Act violations. He has faced repeated enforcement actions in New York, including accusations of animals dying under his care.

Recent Incidents: Earlier this year, Wallach was issued a summons in Oyster Bay, New York, after federal, state, and local law enforcement found two sloths and a kangaroo in his car outside a coffee shop. The New York Post has repeatedly reported on Wallach for allegedly keeping animals in unsafe conditions and bringing a sloth to a Brooklyn tattoo parlor without a permit.

Unlicensed Displays in Margate: Despite having no USDA license, no signed lease, and no city permits under Margate City Code 6‑24, Wallach has already brought a sloth, a kangaroo, and a cockatoo to:

a previous Commission meeting
Margate Elementary School’s fifth‑grade graduation
the city’s Sports Complex
These displays were unlicensed and unauthorized.

The City’s Response: A Ban on Animals
Following the meeting and growing public pressure, the City of Margate has now prohibited Wallach from bringing animals onto city property. This includes parks, schools, the Sports Complex, and City Hall.

This is the first formal action taken by the city and signals a clear shift: Margate is distancing itself from Wallach and reducing its liability for unlicensed animal displays.

Humane Long Island’s Role
Humane Long Island has taken a leading role in opposing Wallach’s plans. Di Leonardo’s presence at the meeting, his testimony, and his organization’s documentation of Wallach’s history have given Margate residents national‑level support and credibility.

The Margate Waterfront Foundation’s Position
The Margate Waterfront Foundation (MWF), a federal 501(c)(3) supporting wildlife education on Margate’s waterways, has issued a formal statement opposing sloth captivity in Margate.

MWF:

acknowledges Wallach’s right to operate a business within federal law
rejects the exhibition and exploitation of sloths, citing the Sloth Conservation Foundation and IFAW
argues that Margate’s natural wildlife—ospreys, limpkins, basilisks, anoles, red‑bellied cooters, alligators, coyotes, and more—is “intriguing on its own”
encourages families to visit Margate’s natural waterfront areas instead of supporting nondomestic animal displays
This is a significant local endorsement of the anti‑sloth‑encounter movement.

The Larger Context
The Margate controversy comes just weeks after the Orlando sloth deaths made national headlines. In response, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission suspended most sloth imports for 60 days beginning May 13.

Despite this, Wallach is attempting to open a sloth encounter business in Margate one month later.

As Di Leonardo said: “That’s very, very serious.”

Where Things Stand Now
The situation in Margate is no longer a quiet zoning matter. It is now:

a documented public protest
a split Commission
a national animal‑welfare organization intervening
a local nonprofit taking a public stance
a major newspaper reporting the facts
a city ban on Wallach bringing animals to public property
a community mobilizing to prevent another Orlando
The facts are clear. The record is public. And Margate residents are not backing down.

Please continue to share and encourage others to sign. We need justice to be served here in Orlando.