The US Justice Department has seized 68 lions, tigers, lion-tiger hybrids and a jaguar from an animal park owned by Jeff Lowe - the star o...
The US Justice Department has seized 68 lions, tigers, lion-tiger hybrids and a jaguar from an animal park owned by Jeff Lowe - the star of Netflix's blockbuster docuseries Tiger King.
Officials raided his newly-established 'Tiger King Park' in Thackerville, Oklahoma on Monday after ongoing Endangered Species Act violations.
Authorities claimed that Jeff and his wife, Lauren Lowe, had repeatedly violated laws requiring appropriate care for animals and had not complied with an order to hire a qualified veterinarian.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) allegedly conducted three inspections of the park in the past six months.
The Lowes received 'citations for failing to provide the animals with adequate or timely veterinary care, appropriate nutrition'.
TMZ reports that inspectors noted that there was also inadequate shelter to protect the big cats 'from bad weather'.
'This seizure should send a clear message that the Justice Department takes alleged harm to captive-bred animals protected under the Endangered Species Act very seriously,' Acting Assistant Attorney General Jean Williams said Wednesday.
The US Justice Department has seized 68 lions, tigers, lion-tiger hybrids and a jaguar from an animal park owned by Jeff and Lauren Lowe - the stars of Netflix's blockbuster docuseries Tiger King
On Monday, officials raided the newly-established 'Tiger King Park' in Thackerville, Oklahoma for ongoing Endangered Species Act violations
One of the animals is seen being transported out of the animal park. The big cats have been moved to 'responsible animal preserves where they can be safely maintained'
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) allegedly conducted three inspections of the park since in the past six months. Lowe is seen at the facility last year
The Lowes previously owned the Wynnewood Greater Wildlife Park. That facility was once owned by Joe Exotic - the flamboyant lead star of Tiger King.
Wynnewood was the setting of the seven-part docuseries, which revolved around Exotic's bid to keep control of the animal park.
However, Exotic - whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage - was arrested on charges of attempted murder and the Lowes later took ownership of Wynnewood.
They were forced to close the park last August after a USDA inspection there found multiple animal welfare violations.
Jeff Lowe claimed the USDA was accusing him of a 'litany of falsehoods' and blamed PETA 'spies' for the closure of the park.
'The very agency that has given my facility five consecutive perfect inspections, has now folded to the pressures of PETA and continue to make false accusations against me,' Lowe stated.
The Lowes moved their big cats to Thackerville, Oklahoma to create their new unlicensed wildlife park called 'Tiger King Park.'
But USDA continued to conduct inspections and the big cats have now been seized.
The Lowes previously owned the Wynnewood Greater Wildlife Park, before relocating their big cats to the 'Tiger King Park' in Thackerville (pictured)
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) allegedly conducted three inspections of the park since in the past six months. Lauren Lowe is seen at the facility last year
Lauren Lowe is seen at the park last November. Since that time, USDA officials conducted three separate inspections of the park
Jeff and Lauren are seen in a snap taken by DailyMail.com at the park prior to its opening last year
The Justice Department says they want 'to ensure that [the animals] go to responsible animal preserves where they can be safely maintained rather than exploited'.
PETA released a statement saying 'the Lowes' reign of terror against threatened and endangered big cats may soon be over.
'If PETA has its way, these Tiger King villains will lose every other animal in their custody, too,' PETA official Brittany Peet said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Lowes' co-star, Joe Exotic, remains behind bars serving out a 22-year-sentence.
He was convicted of hiring a hitman to kill animal rights activist, Carole Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue in Florida.
Joe Exotic remains behind bars serving out a 22-year-sentence. He was convicted of hiring a hitman to kill animal rights activist, Carole Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue in Florida
Exotic was convicted of hiring a hitman to kill animal rights activist, Carole Baskin, who runs Big Cat Rescue in Florida
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