Carole Baskin Awarded Ownership of Joe Exotic's Animal Park

WYNNEWOOD, OK—Carole Baskin won a major court battle against Joe Exotic after she was awarded ownership of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park Monday.

According to CNN, a judge ruled in favor of Baskin and her Big Cat Rescue Corporation on Monday. The order will give Baskin control of the 16 acres of land in Garvin County that housed Joe Exotic’s extensive big cat population. Baskin will also be awarded several cabins and vehicles formerly owned by Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, better known as Joe Exotic.

The Greater Wynnewood Development Group, LLC. must “vacate the Zoo Land premises within 120 days of service of this Order. Vacation of premises shall also require removal of all zoo animals from the Zoo Land.”

In the court battle, Joe Exotic argued that Baskin was attempting to destroy his business by launching an online smear campaign on YouTube and social media channels. Baskin argued Joe Exotic was abusing his animals and disagreed with using the tigers for profit.

In 2011 Joe Exotic lost a trademark infringement lawsuit and was ordered to pay Baskin $1 million. In 2016, Baskin filed a second suit alleging Joe Exotic had transferred the Oklahoma property to his mother to evade creditors.

Jeff Lowe, who is the current owner of the park will be required to vacate the premises in the next 4 months. According to one of his attorneys, Lowe was not surprised the judge ruled in Baskin’s favor.

"We anticipated Carol Baskin getting the title to the former park that once belonged to Joe Exotic, and we did not challenge her attempts to do so," Mosley said Monday. "All of Jeff's focus is on opening the new Tiger King Park in Thackerville, (Oklahoma), which should be opening in the next 120 days."

Joe Exotic is currently serving a 22-year sentence for hiring a hitman to kill Baskin for only $3,000. He is also accused of animal abuse including killing five tigers, selling baby lemurs, and falsifying paperwork that claimed they were donated.