Tiger King’s infamous owners now are facing a reckoning by a federal court on alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act.
Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe, owners of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park featured in the controversial Netflix documentary Tiger King, have been ordered to surrender all their big cat cubs younger than one year old and the babies’ mothers to the federal government, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The court also ordered the couple to stop exhibiting all animals without a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) license and to provide the court with records of all the animals they acquired or got rid of since last June.
The Lowes’ failure to provide safe conditions, proper nutrition, and adequate medical care harmed several animals and caused the deaths of two tiger cubs, the court determined.
“The Lowes have showed a shocking disregard for both the health and welfare of their animals, as well as the law,” said Jonathon D. Brightbill, assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
Last year, a multi-agency investigation of the park found injured and sick animals suffering in deplorable conditions. Authorities suspended the Lowes’ USDA license — resulting in the zoo’s permanent closure — and granted control of the property to Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue.
While the decision to seize cubs and their mothers represents a victory for animals, we must do more to protect captive exotic cats in the United States.
New legislation can help protect defenseless tigers, lions, and all big cats from senseless abuse and neglect. If you haven’t yet, sign Lady Freethinker’s petition urging Congress to pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which would ban private ownership of big cats and restrict contact between these animals and the general public.
SIGN: Save Tigers and Lions from Miserable Captivity As ‘Pets’
What’s New…
One day we will get a world leader who cares for wildlife, l just hope it is soon as the fools we got in now
are has much good as a nothing.
Peace to all Animals
Thank you to all who help Animals.
love from uk
This orders has been given a LONG TIME AGO. This was Long overdue demand to surrender the poor animals who suffered in SILENCE under this monster man. Shame on the USA law makers. How on earth the law makers could not figure this out long ago. These poor animals were Imprisoned & kept in such deplorable conditions without having any freedom to run around & climb hills as the way they were been born to.
Greedy man only thought about his own pockets & never about the defenseless animals. PLEASE SEND “A L L” OF THEM TO ACCREDITED SANCUARY for them to lead a normal life as animals. THESE ANIMALS ARE ‘N O T” ORNAMENTS OR EYE CANDY FOR THE ignorant people .Please treat them with respect..
Do unto others as the way you would want others do unto you. ANIMALS are also OTHERS….
This facility and ALL facilities that house and exhibit wild animals should be shut down. They should be federally outlawed in all states! These animals should never have to live like this. It is dangerous for them AND for humans! Why our laws allow such atrocities like these parks I will never know! Jeff Lowe has been ordered to reunite mothers and their cubs but ALL animals should be removed and this man should also be jailed! I blame the system more than the putrid human that does such things!
It was great to see the police save the dog
I hope this scumbag gets the book thrown at him as well as fined the maximum. believe he should be made to pay for these poor creatures needs for the rest of their lives.
“WHAT FANTASTIC NEWS! hopefully these foul low life”s will get what they deserve in court !! treatment of this form (or any form) is totally unacceptable !!
YAY! Thank everyone who worked to achieve this wonderful action.
Why are humans so uncaring. The tiger cubs’ lives are ruined as they should have been in the wild all those years. Since they cannot be returned to the wild, they will probably be in a zoo…how very sad.
Wow what a couple of hypocrites!
I sign these animal cruelty things just signed the elephant set on fire a video was taken BUT DID ANYONE go and find the elephant and help.!!!!!?????
Good point. Would like to know the answer too.
When will man leave animals alone?
Sadly the poor Elephant has died at the end. I too signed the petition & those people should punish that evil scumbag to the fullest extend. What a cruel vicious man he must have been to put the fire on the face of helpless pachyderm.? How much pain & sufferings that poor animal might have undergone? Unimaginable.
“Some humans are the MOST CRUELEST, VICIOUS creatures ever exist on this earth…
This man shouldn’t be called Tiger King, HE is a Tiger abuser. Imagine the horrific manner he keeps such large animals in so tiny cages confined to be PRISONERS STATUS and suffering mentally & physically in SILENCE.
ALL THESE POOR DEFENSELESS ANIMALS NEED TO BE RESCUED FROM THIS IMPRISONMENT & PLEASE SEND THEM TO ACCREDITED SACTUARIES FOR THEM TO LIVE LIKE TIGERS & other animals as the way they were been born into.
WHO are the authorities allowed to run such horrific cruel animal confinement place?? also MUST BE brought to justice. In a modern world no one needs to confine these wild animals for the people to get entertained. Hundreds of thousands of electronic games are there to Entertain people according to their own choices.
PLEASE BAN THIS TYPE OF MADNESS.
This is good news.
Thank you for getting his cats. But, who will make sure he doesn’t continue to buy new, under his name or someone else’s?
SURPRISE!!!! Now that the light has brightened reality on how the we have more tigers and cat’s in captivity (CAN U BELIEVE THE),…and this has. FINALLY been exposed,…it only show’s how irresponsible,..how neglectful,…how much of a failure our laws and governments are to protect these magnificent animals,…do we see how wrong this is and how reckless governments are to protect ANY animal for that matter. NOW,..that TigerKing IS SO COOL,…(trailer trash and disfunction,…reminds me of Deliverance really)and that those kinds of people are aok to put these cat’s in cages in their back yards,…..THEY NOW THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE NEAR COMPLETELY RUINED IN NATURE,……SAY OPPS,….THE PUBLIC HAS SEEN OUR NEGLECT AND STUPIDITY,…SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO APPEASE THE MASSES OUTRAGE AND DISGUST….AND FINALLY WE SEE HOW MUCH OF A ABSOLUTE AND UTTER FAILURE OUR GOVERNMENTS ARE GIVING EVERY REDNECK IDIOT THE RIGHT TO HAVE A CHIMP OR LION OR TIGER OR (THE LIST IS ENDLESS) FOR THEIR VERY OWN. MAKES ME SICK WITH DISGUST. JUST LIKE THE GUN LAWS!! Are u out of your freaking minds??!? And then u cry because a teenager has mowed down a school with bullets,….BUT STILL CAN’T FIGURE IT OUT. ABSOLUTE IDIOTIC MORONS. SO NOW THE GOVERNMENT (ONLY NOW…….. THAT IT HAS BEEN EXPOSED IS BACKPEDDLING TO APPEASE THE MASSIVE OUTRAGE AT THEIR COMPLETE FAILURE IN MANAGING ANIMALS,…IS CONFISGATING THESE ANIMALS. IS GOING ON IN BACK YARDS EVERYWHERE TO OWN AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL. IT’S SICKENING AND THE GOVERNMENT,……IS COMPLETELY TO BLAME. PATHETIC PIECES OF GARBAGE!!!!
STOP ALL ANIMAL CRUELTY NOW
While this is great news, there are so many more languishing in those place of pity, fear, pain and loneliness. I wish the world would be a better place for all animals. If only the world government officials and lawmakers would care if only at least a little.