Big cats made famous on 'Tiger King' find new home at Carolina Tiger Rescue
A North Carolina big cat sanctuary is caring for several animals seized from the Tiger King Park, made famous by the Netflix show "Tiger King."
Posted — UpdatedThe U.S. Department of Justice seized 68 endangered cats from the park in Thackerville, Okla., last week, according to Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro.
Tiger King Park is currently owned by Jeff and Lauren Lowe, who appeared on the Netflix series.
The seized animals included lions, tigers, a lion-tiger hybrid species and a jaguar. Carolina Tiger Rescue is caring for four of the cats, while law enforcement seeks "permanent forfeiture of the animals," according to the Carolina Tiger Rescue.
The Lowes, Tiger King LLC and Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, LLC are accused of violating the Endangered Species Act and Animal Welfare Act, according to a federal complaint filed last year.
Authorities inspected Tiger King Park three times since mid-December. Officials said the Lowes were cited for "failing to provide the animals with adequate or timely veterinary care, appropriate nutrition and shelter that protects them from inclement weather and is of sufficient size to allow them to engage in normal behavior."
“We are glad to see the Department of Justice working hard to better the lives of big cats in captivity, beginning with Tiger King Park,” Carolina Tiger Rescue Executive Director Pam Fulk said. “We thank everyone who was involved in this operation.”
Carolina Tiger Rescue declined to comment further about the situation, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
Last year, "Tiger King" became an instant hit for Netflix. The six-part documentary explored big cat breeding zoos and the bizarre world of then Tiger King Park owner Joe Exotic. In the documentary, owners like Exotic allow guests (for a price) to interact with animals, including tiger cubs. Animals are bred, sold and shown in cages.
Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is currently serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison for violations of wildlife laws and a murder-for-hire plot to kill Carole Baskin, who also appeared in the Netflix series.
Carolina Tiger Rescue is the only federally accredited wild cat sanctuary in the state and the only one in North Carolina that is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. The nonprofit gets no state or federal funding, relying on only donations.
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