A tiger fatally mauled its handler at a preserve in Oklahoma, officials at the facility have confirmed. Ryan Easley, operator of the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve near Hugo, was killed on Saturday in what the site described as an “accident” with a tiger under his care.
Easley had previously conducted business with Joseph Maldonado, known as Joe Exotic, the subject of the Netflix series Tiger King. He acquired tigers for his ShowMe Tigers business from Exotic and Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, also featured in the series, and exhibited the animals in travelling circuses.
In a statement on Facebook, Growler Pines Tiger Preserve said: “This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world. Ryan understood those risks – not out of recklessness but out of love.” The preserve has cancelled all tours and animal encounters following the incident.
Debbie Metzler, senior director of captive wildlife for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), said: “It’s never safe for humans to interact directly with apex predators, and it’s never a surprise when a human is attacked by a stressed big cat.” She called for remaining wild animal exhibitors to send their animals to accredited sanctuaries.
Joe Exotic, who was convicted in 2019 for animal abuse and a murder-for-hire plot, complained on Instagram that the media had dragged him into the story. “I had nothing to do with this dude other than 18 years ago I let him keep his tigers at my zoo for one winter,” he wrote.
