Notorious Tiger King Zoo Permanently Closed

WYNNEWOOD, OK – The controversial Oklahoma zoo featured in the Netflix documentary hit series "Tiger King" has closed to the public permanently. 

In a post that was later deleted on the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Memorial Park Facebook page administrators confirmed Tuesday they have decided to close the old zoo "effective immediately." 

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Jeff Lowe, the current owner who took over possession of the zoo from previous owner Joseph Maldonaldo-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, said as part of the closure he was forced to forfeit his USDA exhibitor's license.

However, Lowe claims that when he contacted the agency about voluntarily forfeiting his exhibitors license he was notified by the USDA that his license was being suspended for 21 days for a litany of falsehoods.

Lowe went on to accuse the agency of "folding to the pressures of PETA by continuing to make false accusations about him." 

Lowe reiterated that exotic animal ownership is in fact legal in the state of Oklahoma, and people can "rest be assured that all the animals will continue to have excellent care."

In June, a federal judge awarded immediate control of the zoo's property to Florida animal rights activist Carole Baskin.

The long-standing feud between Baskin and Exotic was highlighted as a key focus point in the Netflix "Tiger King" series.

Joe Exotic, formally known as Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was convicted in September of 2018 for attempting to hire a hit man to kill Baskin, where He is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence after being found guilty of a murder-for-hire plot, and for killing several tigers in his Oklahoma animal park.

A federal judge recently awarded Baskin the 16-acre zoo property after the judge ruled the properties ownership was fraudulently transferred by Exotic to his mother to avoid paying Baskin in a settlement feud in a trademark infringement lawsuit. 

Lowe added that a "new park" (in Thackerville, Oklahoma) will, at least for the foreseeable future, be a private film set for Tiger King-related television content for cable and streaming services."

Effective immediately the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is closed to public access.