The controversial Netflix series Tiger King which exposed a myriad of wildlife atrocities is once again in the spotlight.
One of the zookeepers featured on the show, Bhagavan ‘Doc’ Antle, has been indicted in Virginia on 15 charges of wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty in a case involving lions according to National Geographic.
Antle owns Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina which was popular for cub-petting of big cats, including tigers. The zoo is run by Antle, his three girlfriends and his children.
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The Virginia Attorney General’s office charged the zookeeper on October 8 with the following:
- One felony count of wildlife trafficking
- Four misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to violate the Endangered Species Act
- Nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty
- One felony count of conspiracy to traffic wildlife
Myrtle Beach’s Doc Antle, of ‘Tiger King’ fame, charged with animal cruelty https://t.co/Dy6z5EMpGY
— Holy City Sinner (@HolyCitySinner) October 9, 2020
Antle was involved in trafficking lions with Keith Wilson, who owns the now defunct Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Virginia.
Wilson also faces similar charges, according to PETA. Wilson has been charged with 46 counts of animal cruelty. He was charged after officials seized over 100 animals found in deplorable conditions, many of which had no food or water.
‘The dominos are falling one by one—nearly every animal abuser featured in Tiger King is now in custody, out of business, or facing administrative or criminal charges. After years of working to stop ‘Doc’ Antle’s cruel tiger-petting sessions and chimpanzee video stunts, PETA is eager to see him face the courtroom—and the consequences,’ said Brittany Peet, PETA Foudation’s deputy general counsel of Captive Animal Law Enforcement, who appeared in Tiger King.
Lions are protected under the Endangered Species Act and it is illegal to sell them across state lines.
Big cats are used for entertainment purposes by these facilities. The animals endure incredibly cruel conditions for the duration of their lives.
‘They either die slowly from neglect or are slaughtered because they’re no longer of an exploitable age or size,’ says PETA.
The animal welfare organisation has relocated 39 tigers from the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park which was the facility run by ‘Joe Exotic’ from Tiger King.
The animals are now in reputable sanctuaries across the US. The organisation also rescued and relocated three sub-adult lions from Jeff Lowe, who was involved in business with Exotic.
Tim Stark, who was also on the Netflix show for his roadside zoo Wildlife in Need (WIN), was arrested on October 8.
‘PETA, The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, and the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas removed 22 tigers, lions, and tiger/lion hybrids from Indiana’s Wildlife in Need (WIN), which was operated by Tiger King villain Stark and his ex-wife, Melissa Lane. The rescue follows an order in PETA’s successful Endangered Species Act lawsuit against the now-defunct roadside zoo,’ said PETA in a statement.
Stark was on the run and intercepted in New York. A warrant for his arrest was issued in September. He was accused for intimidating state officials and refused to disclose the whereabouts of a number of animals that went missing from the WIN property.
JUST IN: Wildlife in Need’s Tim Stark is in custody in Washington County, NY. being held on a Clark County felony warrant. @WHAS11 pic.twitter.com/b1T5RRmWpg
— Brooke Hasch (@WHAS11Hasch) October 8, 2020
Image: Instagram
