Myrtle Beach safari owner highlighted in 'Tiger King' arrested by FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation have arrested a Myrtle Beach safari owner who was made popular in the 2020 Netflix documentary series Tiger King.

Posted 12:10 p.m. Jun 4, 2022 — Updated 10:21 p.m. Jun 4, 2022

Maggie Brown

, WRAL mutliplatform producer/WMBF News Staff

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Myrtle Beach safari owner who was made popular in the 2020 Netflix documentary series Tiger King.

Bhagavan Antle, known as "Doc," was arrested on Friday night, according to the Horry County booking's website. He is being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

No charges have been posted yet.

The arrest comes just weeks after the animal rights organization PETA publicly called for an investigation into Antle, according to reporting from WMBF News. PETA accused Antle of using charitable donations to fund his roadside zoo while claiming to support wildlife conservation.

In the letters, PETA states that Antle, “breeds big cats, prematurely separates cubs from their mothers, and forces them and other animals into stressful and dangerous public encounters — activities that do not benefit the animals’ well-being and have no conservation value.”

An FBI source told WMBF News that the agency had arrested Antle, but provided no further information.

WMBF also reached out to the Rare Species Fund, the South Carolina Secretary of State, and the IRS for comment shortly after PETA called for an investigation. Those entities had not responded to a request for comment.

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