68 big cats have been seized by federal officials from a park featuring in hit Netflix show Tiger King. Owners Jeff and Lauren Lowe are accused of not caring for the animals properly.
The United States Justice Department confiscated the exotic animals from Tiger King Park in Oklahoma. Animals recovered include 46 tigers, 7 lions, 15 lion-tiger hybrids (ligers), and 1 jaguar.
The zoo underwent inspection three times since December 2020, and the couple issued with multiple citations. They are failing to properly look after the creatures in their care. Therefore they are violating US laws on endangered species and animal welfare.
Inspections revealed a repeated failure to provide the animals with adequate veterinary care, appropriate nutrition, and suitable shelter. The Lowes did not follow court orders to hire a qualified vet to ensure the right level of care. Additionally, a lot of them have bone disorders because of a calcium deficiency caused by eating boneless and ground meat. Meanwhile, the enclosures do not provide enough protection from the weather, and are not a sufficient size to allow normal behaviours.
Threatening behaviour
The government officials say the couple harassed them while they were carrying out the inspections. At one point Mrs Lowe even threatened to kill one of them. They felt extremely intimidated, especially because their former Tiger King business partner is Joe Exotic.
Mr Lowe’s ex business partner, and main star of the tv show, is currently serving a 22 year long jail sentence. He is in prison for crimes involving a contract killing and animal abuse. Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, hired a hit man to assassinate a business rival.
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