Oklahoma tiger-handler linked to Tiger King killed during wildlife preserve demonstration
Ryan Easley, 37, owner of Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, died after an officer-lawm scheduled tiger demonstration; advocates and Exotic respond amid ongoing debate over private big-cat exhibitions.
An Oklahoma man linked to Netflix's Tiger King was killed during a tiger demonstration at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Ryan Easley, 37, owned the facility near Wynnewood, about 60 miles south of Oklahoma City. In a Facebook post, Growler Pines described Easley as more than just a worker—“his calling, his passion and his life’s purpose”—and said he “lost his life in an accident involving a tiger.”
Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park told ABC News the tiger involved had been in Easley’s care since it was a cub and that the animal bit him in the neck and shoulder toward the end of the show, in front of spectators. The attack occurred during a live demonstration at the wildlife preserve.
PETA said Easley was “an associate” of Joe Exotic, the former wildlife park operator and star of Netflix's Tiger King, and that Easley had obtained animals from Exotic in the past. PETA labeled Growler Pines a “roadside zoo” and urged that remaining private animal exhibitors pull out of the business and relocate animals to accredited sanctuaries. Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, posted on X that “No one can blame the tiger for what happened. We all take risk in what we do and we don't need further laws to ban tigers because of this because you can get killed doing just about anything.”
The episode renews attention on the controversy surrounding private big-cat facilities, with critics arguing they expose animals and handlers to danger and raise ethical questions about performance-driven entertainment. The Netflix series Tiger King helped make Exotic a household name, and animal-welfare groups have pressed for stricter limits or bans on private tiger exhibitions. Some industry observers note that Easley’s operation has shaped the ongoing debate about traveling demonstrations with large cats.
Choctaw County authorities said the investigation is ongoing and that additional details would be released as they become available. There have been no immediate updates on any charges. The incident adds to years of scrutiny of private big-cat venues and the risks they pose to handlers, bystanders and the animals themselves.
The death underscores the hazards of close contact with apex predators and the broader policy questions about how such animals are kept and displayed in nontraditional venues.