Tigers K*lls Man In Oklahoma

Tigers, no matter how hard you try to domesticate them, end up falling back into their predator nature.

A tiger killed its handler in Oklahoma on Sunday.

Ryan Easley was found dead by authorities after being attacked by a tiger he was handling at a big cat preserve near Hugo, Oklahoma.

Caretaker killed by tiger at wildlife preserve in southeastern Oklahoma https://t.co/DPBkEteevN pic.twitter.com/NQuTgZQMzu

— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) September 22, 2025

CBS reported more on the tragic incident:

An animal handler was killed by a tiger under his care at a preserve for big cats in southeastern Oklahoma, the organization said Sunday.

Growler Pines Tiger Preserve said in a statement that Ryan Easley died Saturday in “an accident” involving a tiger at the property near Hugo, not far from the Texas border. Easley was not breathing when deputies arrived, KXII-TV reported.

“This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world,” the preserve said on its Facebook page. “Ryan understood those risks – not out of recklessness but out of love. The animals under his care were not just animals to him, but beings he formed a connection with – one rooted in respect, daily care and love.”

All tours have been canceled until further notice, the statement said.

The preserve is a private facility where visitors can book tours to view tigers and see demonstrations on how the animals are trained and cared for, according to its website.

Several outlets reported that the Tiger that killed Easley was reportedly acquired from Joseph Maldonado, known as Joe Exotic, from the hit Netflix series Tiger King.

Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo, Oklahoma, announced that owner Ryan Easley died during an "accident involving a tiger under his care." MORE: https://t.co/GUGhZA20Qn pic.twitter.com/7X4tDwfJa5

— koconews (@koconews) September 21, 2025

MSN reported more on the connection:

PETA said Easley had gotten his tigers from Joseph Maldonado, popularly known as Joe Exotic, and Bhagavan ‘Doc’ Antle, both of whom appeared in the Netflix series “Tiger King.” The tigers had boarded at Joe Exotic’s zoo in winter when not touring, it said in a statement on Easley’s death Sunday.

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Joe Exotic — whose real name is Joe Maldonado — expressed his condolences on social media after Easley’s death, the Oklahoman reported. “Prayers go out to his family,” it quoted him as saying. “Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved everyone of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants.” The Oklahoman said the posts were later removed from Instagram and Facebook.