By Gabe Whisnant
Copyright newsweek
A tiger fatally mauled its longtime handler during a show at a private preserve in southeastern Oklahoma, authorities said Monday.
Deputies found Ryan Easley, 37, dead inside a cage at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve on Saturday as onlookers, including his wife and young daughter, watched in shock.
Why It Matters
The attack adds to a long list of incidents involving big cats used in performances and private attractions. Animal rights groups say the tragedy underscores the dangers of keeping tigers in captivity for public display, arguing that wild animals remain unpredictable no matter how long they’ve been trained. The incident also raises questions about oversight. Because Growler Pines houses exotic species, it falls under federal — not state — jurisdiction. That means permits come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Neither agency has yet commented on the death.
What to Know
Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park said the tiger suddenly bit and shook Easley while they were inside a large cage during the finale of a big cat demonstration.
The preserve said in a Facebook statement that Easley’s animals “were not just animals to him, but beings he formed a connection with — one rooted in respect, daily care and love.” It called the death “a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world.” All tours have been canceled until further notice.
Animal rights organizations were quick to respond. Debbie Metzler, senior director of captive wildlife for the PETA Foundation, said, “It was really only a matter of time before these cats responded in a way that is completely natural to them, which is to use aggression to respond to a stressor.” Humane World for Animals also issued a statement, calling Easley’s death evidence that wild animals should not be used in entertainment.
Records show Easley acquired two tiger cubs in 2012 from the G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, then run by Joe Exotic — the flamboyant zookeeper featured in the Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture confirmed a certificate of veterinary inspection from that year appeared authentic.
Bhopal: A bengal tiger cools off in a pool of water on a hot summer day, at Van Vihar National Park, in Bhopal, Friday, April 18, 2025. (PTI via AP)
Easley’s wife and young daughter witnessed the attack, Park said.
The incident is part of a troubling history of tiger attacks on trainers and performers. In 1997, a 400-pound Bengal tiger killed its trainer in front of 200 people at a Pennsylvania circus. In 2003, Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy suffered severe neck injuries when a white tiger dragged him offstage during a Las Vegas show, ending the iconic act.
Animal welfare groups say such examples should compel the government to strengthen restrictions on the keeping of big cats. The Big Cat Public Safety Act, signed into law in 2022, restricts private ownership of lions, tigers and other large felines but allows existing exhibitors to keep their animals.
What People Are Saying
Park told the Associated Press, “It was a big tiger. This particular one, he’d had for quite some time.”
From federal prison, Joseph Maldonado-Passage — better known as Joe Exotic — posted a tribute on Instagram, noting Easley once built a winter compound for his tigers at his Wynnewood zoo: “So with all my respect as a human R.I.P. Ryan Easley. You died doing what you loved.”
What Happens Next
Investigators are reviewing the circumstances of the attack, though authorities said the tiger would not be destroyed. The USDA and Fish and Wildlife Service could launch reviews of Growler Pines’ permits and practices, which are required for facilities housing non-native species.
The latest fatal mauling is likely to intensify calls for stricter enforcement and a reevaluation of public performances involving big cats.
Updates: 9/22/25, 7:18 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.