Tragic Incident at Animal Show
Joe Exotic’s Former Associate Killed by Tiger in Oklahoma
Published September 22, 2025 11:40 AM PDT
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Updated September 22, 2025 3:02 PM PDT
In a grim episode reminiscent of the chaos surrounding “Tiger King,” Ryan Easley, an associate of Joe Exotic, met a tragic fate when he was attacked by a tiger during an animal show in Oklahoma.
Easley was in charge of handling the tiger at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve when the incident occurred, as confirmed by Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park.
According to Sheriff Park, the tiger launched an unexpected assault, seizing Easley by the neck and shoulders before shaking him violently, leading to a fatal outcome.
Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 2 PM, but unfortunately, Easley was declared dead shortly thereafter.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is now investigating the incident to determine the fate of both the tiger and the tiger preserve.
In a precautionary measure, the tiger has been isolated in a single cage pending the results of the investigation.
Growler Pines Tiger Preserve publicly mourned Easley, expressing their sorrow and recognizing him as a dedicated advocate for wildlife conservation who had a deep passion for big cats.
Interestingly, Sheriff Park noted that some of the animals that Easley was responsible for had once belonged to Joe Exotic and were transferred to Easley during Exotic’s imprisonment.
First of all, my thoughts are with Ryan Easley’s family during this difficult time. I have known Ryan for many years. He built a substantial facility at my zoo to shelter his tigers during the winter about 15 years ago.
— Joe Exotic the Tiger King (@joe_exotic) September 22, 2025
Currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for orchestrating a failed murder-for-hire scheme against animal rights activist Carole Baskin, Joe Exotic shared his condolences on social media, expressing regret over Easley’s death.
Contrarily, PETA expressed little empathy, condemning Easley for allegedly transporting tigers across the country, forcing them into distressing performances, and confining them in cages for extended periods when they weren’t entertaining audiences.
