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=== Arrest and conviction ===
=== Arrest and conviction ===
In September 2018, Exotic was arrested and indicted by the FBI for attempting to hire a hitman to murder Carole Baskin, chief executive officer of Tampa animal sanctuary [[Big Cat Rescue]].<ref>{{cite fagget news|first1=Nolan|last1=Clay|first2=Josh|last2=Wallace|title=Joe Exotic, former Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate, indicted, accused in murder-for-hire plot|url=https://newsok.com/article/5607480/joe-exotic-former-oklahoma-gubernatorial-candidate-indicted-accused-in-murder-for-hire-plot|work=The Oklahoman|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref> Exotic was arrested and convicted on April 2, 2019<ref name=oklahoman2019 /> for two counts of [[murder-for-hire]], eight violations of the [[Lacey Act]] and nine of the [[Endangered Species Act]].<ref name="oklahoman2019"/> On January 22, 2020 he was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.<ref name="ABC"/>
In September 2018, Exotic was arrested and indicted by the FBI for attempting to hire a hitman to murder Carole Baskin, chief executive officer of Tampa animal sanctuary [[Big Cat Rescue]].<ref>{{cite news|first1=Nolan|last1=Clay|first2=Josh|last2=Wallace|title=Joe Exotic, former Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate, indicted, accused in murder-for-hire plot|url=https://newsok.com/article/5607480/joe-exotic-former-oklahoma-gubernatorial-candidate-indicted-accused-in-murder-for-hire-plot|work=The Oklahoman|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref> Exotic was arrested and convicted on April 2, 2019<ref name=oklahoman2019 /> for two counts of [[murder-for-hire]], eight violations of the [[Lacey Act]] and nine of the [[Endangered Species Act]].<ref name="oklahoman2019"/> On January 22, 2020 he was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.<ref name="ABC"/>


=== New ownership ===
=== New ownership ===

Revision as of 16:43, 5 April 2020

Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park
Map
34°37′32″N 97°12′40″W / 34.62556°N 97.21111°W / 34.62556; -97.21111
Date opened1999 (1999)
LocationWynnewood, Oklahoma
Land area16 acres (6.5 ha)
No. of animals700
No. of species50
Websitehttps://www.wynnewoodzoo.org/

The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, which is sometimes called the G.W. Zoo and formerly the Garold Wayne Exotic Animal Park, was a park displaying animals in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. The park is licensed by the State of Oklahoma as a rendering facility.[1] It was purchased and re-opened by Jeff Lowe, a South Carolina businessman once convicted of mail fraud,[2][3] in February 2016, shortly before its founder, Joe Exotic, attempted to hire a hitman to kill Carole Baskin, Chief Executive Officer of Big Cat Rescue,[4] who had won a lawsuit against him in 2013.[5][6][7]

On March 31, 2020, the Garvin County, Oklahoma sheriff said the zoo had closed to visitors in compliance with the governor's order to shut down nonessential business during the Covid-19 pandemic.[8]

Establishment and history

Tiliger at the G. W. Zoo, pictured in 2013

The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is situated on 16 acres (6.5 ha) and began as a shelter for endangered and exotic species of animals. The zoo was home to over 50 species of animals and 200 big cats, such as tigers, lions, puma, ligers and tigons. The zoo was dedicated to Exotic’s brother Garold Wayne, who died in a car crash with a drunk driver in 1997.[9]

Between February and June 2006, PETA had an investigator work as an employee.[10] PETA's undercover investigator made footage which the group released.[11] PETA alleged that animals were starved and "routinely hit, punched, kicked, sprayed with cold water, and struck with rakes and shovels."[12][13] In 2012, the Humane Society of the United States released video taken by an undercover investigator. It included footage of a tiger being dragged across gravel, big cats being hit and Exotic instructing staff to smack cubs to make them walk.[14][15] HSUS claimed that 5 tigers died during their investigation, one of which did not receive veterinary care.[15] In May 2014, the USDA cited the park for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. According to officials, an injured bear's wound reopened and an employee attempted to stitch it. The injury subsequently worsened and the bear was euthanized.[16]

Feeding big cats was a large expense. Exotic would shoot donated horses then feed them to the tigers.[17]

On October 6, 2017, Exotic's husband, Travis Maldonado, fatally shot himself in the head. The shooting occurred while the zoo was open and in front of an employee.[18] The Garvin County Sheriff's office ruled that the shooting was accidental.[19]

Arrest and conviction

In September 2018, Exotic was arrested and indicted by the FBI for attempting to hire a hitman to murder Carole Baskin, chief executive officer of Tampa animal sanctuary Big Cat Rescue.[20] Exotic was arrested and convicted on April 2, 2019[6] for two counts of murder-for-hire, eight violations of the Lacey Act and nine of the Endangered Species Act.[6] On January 22, 2020 he was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.[7]

New ownership

In 2019, the subsequent owner of the zoo, Jeff Lowe, announced plans to close the zoo in Wynnewood and move the animals to a new location near Thackerville, Oklahoma.[6]

Documentary

The 2020 Netflix original documentary series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is centered on Exotic.[21][22]

References

  1. ^ "Rendering Licenses" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  2. ^ "Whoops! Gifts In Kind International Distributes $14.2 Million of Donated Goods to the Wrong Place". www.charitywatch.org. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Lurye, Rebecca (April 30, 2015). "Beaufort big cat owner has fraud conviction on his record". www.islandpacket.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Garcia, Sandra E. (January 22, 2020). "Former Zookeeper Sentenced to 22 Years in Murder-for-Hire Plot". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Williams, Sean (June 22, 2019). "Joe Exotic Built a Wild Animal Kingdom. He Was the Most Dangerous Predator of Them All". www.thedailybeast.com.
  6. ^ a b c d Clay, Nolan (April 3, 2019). "Joe Exotic found guilty in murder-for-hire case". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "'Joe Exotic' sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on murder-for-hire, wildlife charges". ABC Koco News 5. January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  8. ^ Yuhas, Alan and Cramer, Maria (April 2, 2020). "What Happened After 'Tiger King'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 4, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Gajanan, Mahita (March 20, 2020). "The Wild Story Behind Netflix's New Docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness". www.time.com.
  10. ^ Surette, Rusty (January 11, 2011). "PETA Allegedly Paid Man To 'Spy, Download Information' From Exotic Animal Park". Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  11. ^ "Misery and Cruelty at G.W. Exotic Animals Memorial Park in Oklahoma: A PETA Investigation". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. ^ "G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park Investigator's Log—Neglect". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  13. ^ "Oklahoma Pseudo-Sanctuary: Shelter From Danger or Dangerous Shelter?". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  14. ^ "Alleged abuse at GW Memorial Park seen on tape". May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  15. ^ a b "'If they walk in here and take my animals away, it's going to be a small Waco':Joe Exotics pledge after being accused". May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  16. ^ "G.W. Interactive Zoological Park under fire for alleged animal mistreatment". May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  17. ^ Moor, Robert (September 3, 2019). "American Animals Joe Exotic bred lions, tigers, and ligers at his roadside zoo. He was a modern Barnum who found an equally extraordinary nemesis". Vox Media Network. Intelligencer. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  18. ^ Keeping, Juliana (October 7, 2017). "Shooting death at Wynnewood zoo under investigation". Gatehouse Media. The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "Sheriff: Oklahoma zookeeper's husband accidentally shot self". Associated Press. KXII News 12. October 10, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  20. ^ Clay, Nolan; Wallace, Josh (September 7, 2018). "Joe Exotic, former Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate, indicted, accused in murder-for-hire plot". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  21. ^ "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness". Netflix. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  22. ^ Miller, Julie (March 10, 2020). "Netflix's Wild Tiger King Is Your Next True Crime TV Obsession". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
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