Feds sue ‘Tiger King’ star Jeff Lowe, say he abused animals at Joe Exotic’s old zoo
The feds are not cool with this cat.
The Justice Department sued “Tiger King” cast member Jeff Lowe and his wife, Lauren, on Thursday, accusing them of violating federal animal protection laws after they took over Joe Exotic’s zoo in Oklahoma.
Inspectors at the U.S. Department of Agriculture found animals living in appalling conditions at Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, according to the Justice Department’s complaint filed in civil court.
In June and July inspections, several animals were found emaciated, and no veterinarian was around to treat them, the feds said. Some could not even stand because their bodies had grown so weak.
The inspectors also found badly burned big cat carcasses and a fridge full of rotting meat.
In August, the USDA filed to have Lowe’s animal exhibition license revoked. Lowe voluntarily gave it up to avoid the scrutiny, the feds said.
But after Lowe gave up the license and closed Joe Exotic’s old park, he continued to exhibit animals, openly promoting a new zoo 60 miles south.
As part of their promotion, the Lowes have shown animals on paid video sites OnlyFans and Cameo, the Justice Department said, including photos.
“[We] learned a lot about distracting, diverting attention and using smoke and mirrors in the last few years.” Lowe has said, according to the feds. “If we lose a lawsuit, we simply change the name and open another animal business someplace else.”
Apparently sick of the shenanigans, the Justice Department accused the Lowes of violating the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act in various ways.
However, the Lowes are not criminally charged in the case. Instead, the suit seeks to shut down the new zoo in Thackerville, Okla., dubbed Tiger King Park, and the Lowes’ promo pages. The feds also want the Lowes to turn over any big cats to the government to prevent them from continuing to violate federal animal laws.
Lowe is hardly the first “Tiger King” to run into legal trouble. Joe Exotic, whose legal name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is serving 22 years in prison, and Bhagavan “Doc” Antle was indicted in October.
