'Tiger King' associate mauled to death — Joe Exotic speaks out - video Dailymotion

Watch 'Tiger King' associate mauled to death — Joe Exotic speaks out - New York Post on Dailymotion

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00:00An alleged associate of the Tiger King has been fatally mauled by a tiger at an animal preserve

00:05in Oklahoma. It's been more than five years since Netflix's true crime docuseries first

00:11captured the nation's attention and ultimately put its star, Joe Exotic, behind bars for attempted

00:16murder for hire. Now, animal handler Ryan Easley has died during an accident on Saturday, September

00:2220th. While the exact circumstances of his death are not yet clear, Growler Pine's Tiger Preserve

00:28has canceled all tours and encounters until further notice. According to PETA, Easley had

00:33acquired tigers from Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joe Maldonado, for his own business called

00:38Show Me Tigers. In video shared on their Facebook page, Easley is seen getting up close and personal

00:44with the big cats, from making art to de-shedding this female tiger named Zaya as recently as 2024.

00:51Growler Pine's Tiger Preserve broke the news of Easley's death on Facebook, writing,

00:55This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world.

01:01Ryan understood those risks not out of recklessness, but out of love. The animals under his care were

01:06not just animals to him, but beings he formed a connection with, one rooted in respect, daily care,

01:12and love. The tragic loss comes two months after would-be killer Joe Exotic claimed he's at death's

01:17door. The 62-year-old felon exclusively told The Post in a phone interview that he will not make it

01:23another five years, unless President Trump pardons him. He's currently in federal lockup in Fort Worth,

01:28Texas, for plotting to kill his rival, Carol Baskins. In April, Joe Exotic revealed his husband

01:34and fellow inmate, Jorge Flores Maldonado, to the world. A month later, Jorge was deported by ICE to

01:39Mexico, and the spouses have been pleading with the Trump administration on social media since.

01:44Just one day ago, Jorge posted this plea to POTUS. Joe captioned it,

01:48his English is getting better.

01:57Following Easley's death, Joe Exotic also fired back at his alleged connection to the deceased,

02:02writing on Instagram,

02:03However, PETA took the opportunity to shed light on alleged cruelty for circus animals.

02:25Their senior director of captive wildlife, Debbie Metzler, wrote in a statement,

02:30It's never safe for humans to interact directly with apex predators, and it's never a surprise when

02:35a human is attacked by a stressed big cat who has been caged, whipped, and denied everything natural

02:40and important to them.