The Department of Justice seized dozens of big cats Thursday from Jeffrey Lowe, one of the stars in the Netflix mini-series Tiger King, after allegations of neglect.
Lowe and his wife were accused of “failing to provide the animals with adequate or timely veterinary care, appropriate nutrition” and shelter that allows the cats to roam freely following a multitude of inspections since December 2020, the DOJ said. It confiscated “68 protected lions, tigers, lion-tiger hybrids, and a jaguar” from the duo.
The pair has also been accused of violating provisions of the Endangered Species Act following a verdict in United States v. Lowe that established a series of inspections at the Lowe’s Tiger King Park in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
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“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforces the Endangered Species Act,” said assistant director Edward Grace of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement in a statement. “The law protects imperiled species, such as tigers, both in the wild and in captivity. We work jointly with our federal law enforcement partners to conserve and protect natural resources and we are pleased that we could provide our expertise to assist the U.S. Marshals and USDA officers. Together, we will ensure these animals receive proper care and rehabilitation.”
U.S. Marshals conducted the Thursday seizure, and it is unclear if the pair will face criminal charges.
Lowe took control of a number of animals belonging to Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, as seen in the 2020 Netflix documentary. Exotic, in 2019, was convicted of 17 charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for plotting to kill Florida rival Carole Baskin, the owner of Big Cat Rescue.
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The zookeeper made headlines in September 2020 when he asked former President Donald Trump for a pardon during his final months in office. It was not granted.
