Ryan Easley, a 37-year-old zookeeper and tiger handler, was fatally mauled by one of the tigers in his care during a show at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve near Hugo, Oklahoma, in September 2025. The attack occurred in front of a group of tourists, including his wife and young daughter.
Incident Details
Easley, who was an associate of Tiger King star Joe Exotic, was nearing the end of a big cat show when the tiger pounced. Eyewitnesses said the animal unexpectedly began biting and shaking him while both were inside a training cage. Emergency services arrived within minutes, but Easley was already dead.
Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park described the tiger as "a big tiger" that Easley had "had for quite some time."
Preserve's Statement
In a Facebook statement, Growler Pines confirmed Easley's death, calling it "a tragic loss" and an "accident involving a tiger under his care." The statement praised Easley as a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation who "dedicated his life to the protection and care of these magnificent animals."
The preserve, originally founded as ShowMe Tigers, a traveling big cat show, had shifted its focus to conservation, providing a permanent home for tigers and offering guided tours and training shows.
Animal Rights Response
Following the incident, animal rights organizations highlighted the dangers of keeping wild animals in captivity. Debbie Metzler, PETA Foundation's senior director of captive wildlife, said: "It was really only a matter of time before these cats responded in a way that is completely natural to them, which is to use aggression to respond to a stressor."
In December, the Chief Medical Examiner in Tulsa ruled Easley's death an accident, caused by blunt force, sharp force, and crushing injuries from the mauling.
