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‘Tiger King’ Star ‘Doc’ Antle Convicted of Virginia Wildlife Trafficking

Winchester, Virginia — – A wildlife trainer who starred in the hit Netflix series “Tiger King” was found guilty of wildlife trafficking in Virginia, the attorney general’s office announced Tuesday.

Bhagavan “Doc” Antle has been accused of illegally purchasing an endangered lion cub in Frederick County, Virginia, for display and commercial purposes at the South Carolina Zoo he runs. , Attorney General Jason Miyales said in a news release. A jury on Friday found Mr. Antle guilty of two felony counts each of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy in wildlife trafficking.

Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, starred in Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, a Netflix documentary miniseries focused on tiger breeders.

The Winchester Star reports that a jury acquitted Mr. Entle on five animal cruelty charges, and Judge Alexander Iden dropped four additional animal cruelty charges against Mr. Entle and all charges against his two adult daughters. dismissed.

bhagavan-doc-antle.jpg
This image provided by the Horley County Sheriff’s Office in Conway, South Carolina, shows Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, who was arrested by the FBI on June 3, 2022 on federal money laundering charges.

Holy County Sheriff’s Office (via AP)


Prosecutor Michelle Welch said the profits from the Myrtle Beach Safari petting zoo motivated Mr. Antle to maintain a steady supply of immature lion cubs purchased from Wilsons Wildlife Park near Winchester. He called the arrangement the “Children’s Pipeline” from Virginia to South Carolina.

Welch said the lion trade was still legal when Antle and former park owner Keith Wilson started the business in 2015. However, since lions were listed as an endangered species in December 2015, lions can only be traded between zoos and wildlife sanctuaries that participate in established breeding programs and have permits. rice field. Welch said there were three illegal turnip swaps in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Entre is Indicted for several crimes in 2020 Also included are the felonies of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy. In August 2019, lions, tigers and bears were removed from Wilson’s roadside zoo after a judge found that Wilson had “treated them cruelly, neglected them, or failed to give them proper care.” , 119 animals were seized, including camels, goats and buffaloes.

Wilson testified that Antle had paid in advance under the guise of a donation. He said Antle paid between $2,500 and $3,000 per kitten, excluding a 2017 deal in which he traded three lynx kittens for three lion cubs.

Wilson has been charged with nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and 10 counts of felony endangered species sales, and a hearing in his case is scheduled for Friday.

Attorney Erin Harrigan argued that Mr. Antle’s indictment was politically motivated after growing public outcry over the exploitation of wild animals for recreation.

“This has been on the criminal investigation agenda since the beginning of the investigation,” Halligan said.

Harrigan said the tiger cubs were a gift and that Entle sent Wilson a donation to expand the tiger’s habitat.

“These were not sales,” Halligan said.

Aiden has allowed Antle, who faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, to be released on bail pending a September 14 sentencing.

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Winchester, Virginia — – A wildlife trainer who starred in the hit Netflix series “Tiger King” was found guilty of wildlife trafficking in Virginia, the attorney general’s office announced Tuesday.Bhagavan “Doc” Antle has been accused of illegally purchasing an endangered lion cub in Frederick County, Virginia, for display and commercial purposes at the South Carolina Zoo he runs. , Attorney General Jason Miyales said in a news release. A jury on Friday found Mr. Antle guilty of two felony counts each of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy in wildlife trafficking. Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, starred in Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, a Netflix documentary miniseries focused on tiger breeders.

The Winchester Star reports that a jury acquitted Mr. Entle on five animal cruelty charges, and Judge Alexander Iden dropped four additional animal cruelty charges against Mr. Entle and all charges against his two adult daughters. dismissed.

This image provided by the Horley County Sheriff’s Office in Conway, South Carolina, shows Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, who was arrested by the FBI on June 3, 2022 on federal money laundering charges.

Holy County Sheriff’s Office (via AP)

Prosecutor Michelle Welch said the profits from the Myrtle Beach Safari petting zoo motivated Mr. Antle to maintain a steady supply of immature lion cubs purchased from Wilsons Wildlife Park near Winchester. He called the arrangement the “Children’s Pipeline” from Virginia to South Carolina.

Welch said the lion trade was still legal when Antle and former park owner Keith Wilson started the business in 2015. However, since lions were listed as an endangered species in December 2015, lions can only be traded between zoos and wildlife sanctuaries that participate in established breeding programs and have permits. rice field. Welch said there were three illegal turnip swaps in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Entre is Indicted for several crimes in 2020 Also included are the felonies of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy. In August 2019, lions, tigers and bears were removed from Wilson’s roadside zoo after a judge found that Wilson had “treated them cruelly, neglected them, or failed to give them proper care.” , 119 animals were seized, including camels, goats and buffaloes. Wilson testified that Antle had paid in advance under the guise of a donation. He said Antle paid between $2,500 and $3,000 per kitten, excluding a 2017 deal in which he traded three lynx kittens for three lion cubs. Wilson has been charged with nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and 10 counts of felony endangered species sales, and a hearing in his case is scheduled for Friday.

Attorney Erin Harrigan argued that Mr. Antle’s indictment was politically motivated after growing public outcry over the exploitation of wild animals for recreation. “This has been on the criminal investigation agenda since the beginning of the investigation,” Halligan said. Harrigan said the tiger cubs were a gift and that Entle sent Wilson a donation to expand the tiger’s habitat. “These were not sales,” Halligan said. Aiden has allowed Antle, who faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, to be released on bail pending a September 14 sentencing.

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