USDA Suspends Tiger King Star Zoo License
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended Tiger King Star's, Jeff Lowe, federal Animal Welfare Act exhibitor's license on Monday.
The owner of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Thackerville, Oklahoma, became famous after the release of Netflix docuseries "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness."
The suspension on Lowe's zoo license happened on the same day that he was supposed to be in Las Vegas Municipal Court for a 2017 citation of conducting business without a license.
Lowe tried to start a business where Las Vegas tourists could visit a house he rented to take pictures with a tiger cub and a baby liger, a lion and tiger hybrid.
Lowe was arrested at his house in November 2017 by Clark County animal control officers. He pleaded guilty in April 2018 and paid a fine of $10,000.
He also surrendered his tiger, liger, and lemur to a private sanctuary in Pahrump, Nevada.
Lowe still owes $2,500 to the city of Las Vegas for restitution.
The court hearing was postponed, but several protesters with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) demonstrated at the Regional Justice Center.
The protesters accused Lowe of animal abuse.
The federal government immediately prohibits lowe from exhibiting any big cats or USDA-regulated species with his USDA license suspension.
This applies to his Oklahoma animal park and anywhere else.
Investigation on Lowe
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and the USDA both investigated Lowe's Wynnewood park in June.
The investigation was caused by PETA's released photos and videos that allegedly showed young lions at his park suffering from medical neglect.
USDA discovered during an announced June 22 inspection that the animals at the park are suffering from alleged veterinary neglect.
Included in the USDA's report was a lethargic 16-week-old lion cub named Nala with discharge around her eyes.
Two old wolves were also found to have sores on their bodies from being made to sleep on hard surfaces.
Two thin grizzly bears whose bones are showed outlines through their fur, and a fisher cat with disabled left rear leg and thinning hair.
The USDA demanded that Lowe immediately call veterinary treatment for the animals. Regardless of that, the agency still canceled his license.
It is not yet clear what this will pose for the fate of the zoo or when Lowe will present himself in a Las Vegas court again.
Katerina Davidovich, leader of the Las Vegas protest against Lowe, said that people are waking up to what these animals are going through.
"We want people to know that these animals should be protected and respected, instead of used for a quick buck," Davidovich was quoted in a report.
Oklahoma Park Possession
The said Oklahoma park came to Lowe's possession after the park's previous owner, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as "Joe Exotic, accepted Lowe's financial help for his financial troubles.
The park came into despair after Carole Baskin, an animal rights activist, sued Maldonado-Passage for copyright infringement.
Maldonado-Passage was found guilty of eight violations of the Lacey Act in April 2019. It was a federal law prohibiting the illegal acquisition and transport of rare violations.
The known Joe Exotic was also found guilty of nine violations of the Endangered Species Act for killing five tiger cubs.
He was also guilty of hiring a hitman to kill Baskin. Maldonado-Passage has publicly appealed to Trump for a pardon.
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