Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Via press release from the Justice Department:
The United States has seized 68 protected lions, tigers, lion-tiger hybrids, and a jaguar from Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe’s Tiger King Park in Thackerville, Oklahoma, pursuant to a judicially-authorized search and seizure warrant, for ongoing Endangered Species Act (ESA) violations.
The Justice Department will seek civil forfeiture of these animals and any offspring pursuant to the ESA’s forfeiture provision.
Pursuant to a court-approved stipulation in United States v. Lowe, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has conducted three inspections of Tiger King Park since mid-December 2020.
During these inspections, the Lowes received citations for failing to provide the animals with adequate or timely veterinary care, appropriate nutrition, and shelter that protects them from inclement weather and is of sufficient size to allow them to engage in normal behavior.
The Lowes were recently found in contempt after months of noncompliance with court orders requiring the Lowes, in part, to employ a qualified veterinarian and establish and maintain a program of veterinary care that meets the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act.
The United States alleges that these violations as to ESA-protected animals also constitute violations of the ESA.
NEW: The DOJ has seized 68 endangered big cats from Tiger King Park, owned by Jeff Lowe of Tiger King fame. The DOJ alleges significant lack of proper care of the animals.
My deep dive into Jeff Lowe’s shenanigans and history of exploitation, from Oct: https://t.co/bZcVgGQWO0
— Natasha Daly (@natashaldaly) May 20, 2021
DOJ says:
-At least 3 big cat cubs died of malnutrition since Sept. 2020.
-Two additional cubs died under suspicious circumstances in the same time frame.
-The majority of cubs born since last August were taken from their mothers too early or fed bad diets, and suffered or died.— Natasha Daly (@natashaldaly) May 20, 2021
-Jeff Lowe’s wife Lauren Lowe “communicated a threat to kill” the DOJ inspector.
-In addition, the Lowes verbally and physically harassed the DOJ inspector, including threatening to get the inspector’s children taken away.
— Natasha Daly (@natashaldaly) May 20, 2021
The DOF affadavit recounts in detail EXTENSIVE threats and verbal attacks made to gov’t officials and assistants. The Lowes also deliberately screamed and scared the animals during a previous seizure, so they would be too scared to voluntarily enter government transport crates.
— Natasha Daly (@natashaldaly) May 20, 2021
I could go on. It’s truly wild stuff. But my point in this is that Jeff Lowe, the Antles, and other Tiger King stars have MASSIVE followings. Thousands to millions on FB, Instagram and TikTok. The exploitation is completely invisible to these fans—or they don’t believe it’s true.
— Natasha Daly (@natashaldaly) May 20, 2021