A zookeeper and tiger handler was fatally mauled by one of the big cats in his care, in front of horrified onlookers, including his wife and young daughter. Ryan Easley, 37, died after the attack at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve near Hugo, Oklahoma, in September 2025.
Attack during show
Easley, who had links to Tiger King star Joe Exotic, was nearing the end of a big cat show when the tiger struck. Witnesses at the private zoo, which offers guided tours and training demonstrations, said the animal suddenly began biting him and shaking him violently while they were inside a training cage.
Emergency services arrived within minutes, but Easley was already dead. Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park said: "It was a big tiger. This particular one – he'd had for quite some time."
Preserve's statement
In a Facebook statement, Growler Pines Tiger Preserve confirmed the loss, saying: "It is with profound sorrow that we confirm the tragic loss of Ryan Easley, who lost his life in an accident involving a tiger under his care at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve on September 20th, 2025." The statement described him as a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation who dedicated his life to the care of big cats.
The preserve, originally known as ShowMe Tigers, had shifted its focus from a travelling exhibition to a permanent sanctuary. Following Easley's death, animal rights groups highlighted the dangers of keeping wild animals in captivity.
Cause of death
Debbie Metzler, Peta foundation's senior director of captive wildlife, said: "It was really only a matter of time before these cats responded in 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 the death an accident, attributing it to blunt force, sharp force, and crushing injuries from the attack.
