A tragedy unfolded at an Oklahoma wildlife refuge when animal trainer Ryan Easley was killed by a tiger during a performance.
Easley, who had once worked with Tiger King figure Joe Exotic, was attacked on Saturday, September 20, at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve. The preserve confirmed his death in a statement on Facebook.
“It is with profound sorrow that we confirm the tragic loss of Ryan Easley, who lost his life in an accident involving a tiger under his care at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve… Ryan was a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation. His love for animals, especially Big Cats, was evident in every aspect of his life.”
Deputies responding to the scene found Easley unresponsive, with local authorities telling CNN affiliate KXII that “something went wrong” during the act. Fans were quick to send their condolences to the preserve and Easley’s family in the comments.
“He was such a proud father, animal trainer, elephant encyclopedia, and a true friend,” one person wrote.
Another noted, “ We were so devastated to hear of Ryan’s passing. He touched our hearts with his passion for animals, conservation work, and the way he spoke about his family.”
? SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ?
“We just visited with a private tour 2 weeks ago and I was so astonished with the great passion he had for all of the animals and the work he was doing to insure their care for the future,” a third said.
Growler Pines mourned him as more than an employee, describing the 48-year-old as someone who lived for his animals. “This tragedy is a painful reminder of both the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world. Ryan understood those risks — not out of recklessness but out of love,” the statement read.
Easley had a long history in the world of exotic animal shows. He founded ShowMe Tigers and, according to PETA, sourced big cats from both Exotic and Doc Antle. The animal rights group accused Easley of harsh training methods in the past, claiming he “violently whipping tigers during a training session” and housed them in cramped cages.
Exotic, currently in prison, also shared his thoughts on Easley’s death. “Prayers go out to his family. Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved every one of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants,” Exotic wrote in a now-deleted social media post, per The Oklahoman.
Hence then, the article about tiger mauls former joe exotic colleague to death in shocking accident was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Tiger Mauls Former Joe Exotic Colleague to Death in Shocking Accident )
Also on site :
- Hilton assisted living facility evacuated overnight due to water leak
- Here’s how 2025 killed old-school diplomacy
- Quantum Computing in Financial Services Market Set to Reach USD 6.3 Billion by 2032 as Banks Move from Experimentation to Quantum Advantage .. DataM Intelligence