"tiger king": lions infected with maggots

An investigation has been launched against the unfortunately famous zoo Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, formerly operated by Joe Exotic, "hero" of "Tiger King" on Netflix. Photos of neglected, injured young lions with maggots and flies in their ears surfaced.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has received three photos and a video of young lions in the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park (GW Zoo), Oklahoma, suffering from severe flystrike "(myiases in French) – flies lay eggs on other animals, which eventually hatch into maggots and the latter eat the flesh. The park once belonged to Joseph Maldonado-Passage, known as Joe Exotic. No one could have missed him. Main character of a documentary in several parts on Netflix, his way of living and managing his wild animals scandalized the whole world.

Following many twists (worthy of a Hollywood film) the park is managed by Jeff Lowe. But the latter recently lost ownership of the zoo to Carole Baskin of Big Cat Rescue, yet the animals remain in his possession. Jeff Lowe will also soon face a hearing in Las Vegas on charges of possessing exotic animals and operating an unlicensed business. The state of Oklahoma is suing him for at least $ 50,000 in sales taxes recovered. PETA recently posted an ad in the Wynnewood Gazette to encourage employees and volunteers of the G.W. zoo to share their stories of failed veterinary care and other abuses at PETA.org/Abuse. The man "with a troubled past" for many had bought the park in 2016 to help Exotic, who was in financial difficulty due to a legal battle with animal rights activist and rival, Carole Baskin.

"The veterinarians who observed the documents felt that the injuries would be extremely painful, and that if lions are not treated immediately, they risk losing their ears," PETA wrote in a statement.

The Garvin County Sheriff's Office said the Oklahoma Wildlife Department and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have both visited the park to investigate after receiving a series of complaints about animal welfare, according to a statement posted on Facebook and noted by the media Insider.

Garvin County Sherif Jim Mullet said Jeff Lowe is cooperating with authorities, according to the Associated Press (AP).

PETA has asked the USDA to revoke Jeff Lowe's license, remove the animals from him, and file an emergency motion with the court to have the lions transferred immediately.

For Deputy General Counsel for Enforcement of Captive Animals, Brittany Peet, "the USDA's inaction has allowed Joe Exotic to mistreat and neglect animals for years, and up He has not helped the 'big cats' owned by Jeff Lowe either. "

Insider writes in his article to have received an email regarding this matter. A zoo representative reportedly said, "Are you seriously going to listen to PETA?", Calling the animal rights organization "the number one domestic terrorist group in the United States."

Jeff Lowe spoke on the park's website. He explains that "since he (Exotic) went to jail, I have fixed many of his mistakes."

The Garvin County Sheriff's Office claimed that the animals received veterinary care in isolation and were monitored by the USDA.

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Video by Clara Poudevigne