A former colleague of ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic was fatally mauled by a big cat at his animal preserve in southeastern Oklahoma.
Ryan Easley, the owner of Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, died in an ‘accident’ with a tiger under his care, according to the preserve.
No further details about Easley’s death were revealed. The preserve made a Facebook statement in remembrance and said the facility will be closed until further notice.
‘This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world,’ they wrote.
The preserve remembered him as a passionate wildlife advocate who had a deep love for animals.
Joseph Maldonado, known as Joe Exotic from the mega-hit Netflix series ‘Tiger King‘, acknowledged the caretaker’s death in a since-removed social media post, according to The Oklahoman.
‘Prayers go out to his family,’ Maldonado wrote. ‘Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved everyone of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants.’
Maldonado was convicted on 19 federal counts including wildlife crimes and the heavily publicized murder-for-hire case against his zoo rival, Carole Baskin.
Ryan Easley, a handler at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo Oklahoma was killed by a tiger while it was under his care on Saturday September 20, 2025
This photo provided by the Santa Rose County Jail in Milton, Fla., shows Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as ‘Joe Exotic’
The preserve remembered Easley as a passionate wildlife advocate who had a deep love for animals
He is currently serving a 21-year sentence at Fort Worth’s Federal Medical Center.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the animal rights group more commonly known as PETA, constantly bashed Easley’s preserve.
PETA called Easley a ‘villain’ who allegedly ‘hauled’ tigers around the country, ‘forced them to perform in cruel circuses, and kept them trapped in cages for hours.’
They also wrote that the tiger-handler was allegedly caught ‘violently whipping tigers during a training session’ and that he ‘boarded his tigers in cramped cages’ at Joe Exotic’s roadside zoo.
The animal rights group called for ‘the remaining roadside zoo exhibitors’ to ‘get out of the business now and send the animals to accredited sanctuaries where they can finally live in peace.’
Maldonado clapped back to PETA’s statement on Facebook, writing they ‘always lie and drag him into everything.’
‘Ryan built a huge compound to keep his tigers in on the backside of my zoo. PETA doesn’t know crap,’ according to The Oklahoman.
Easley leaves behind his daughter, Lily, and wife, Elaine, a GoFundMe page was created to help his family during this tragic time
PETA called Easley a ‘villain’ who allegedly ‘hauled’ tigers around the country, ‘forced them to perform in cruel circuses, and kept them trapped in cages for hours’
They also wrote that Easley was allegedly caught ‘violently whipping tigers during a training session’
Easley owned 25 acres of land in Choctaw County. The Choctaw County Sheriff’s office was ‘unwilling to make a comment’ to The Oklahoman regarding the caretaker’s death.
Easley leaves behind his wife, Elaine, and his daughter, Lily.
A GoFundMe page was created to help Easley’s family during this tragic time, with over $15,000 raised out of a $20,000 goal.
The page wrote that Easley’s dedication and sacrifice were unmatched, and that his love for his family ‘shone above all else.’
