Is ‘Tiger King’ Villain Doc Antle Going to Prison? Sentence Details Just Announced
Tiger King villain and Myrtle Beach Safari operator Bhagavan “Doc” Antle will learn some semblance of what the wild animals he imprisons feel when he strips them of their freedom, locks them in a cage, and controls every moment of their day. The only difference is that they weren’t criminals facing punishment. Learn more about what landed the Tiger King villain behind bars.
Why Is Doc Antle Going to Prison?
Antle pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, which prohibits conduct such as trafficking of wildlife, including endangered cheetahs and chimpanzees.
Today, Antle was sentenced to one year and a day in prison, among other consequences, for conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and conspiracy to launder money. Antle was also ordered to pay a $55,000 fine and face three years of supervised release. This sentence is in addition to Antle’s prior Virginia state court convictions that resulted in a $10,000 fine, a two-year suspended sentence, five years of probation, and a five-year ban on working with, trading, possessing, or engaging in other activities with non-native exotic wildlife in Virginia.
What Is Going on With the Myrtle Beach Safari?
Antle’s guilty plea, and years of animal exploitation at Myrtle Beach Safari—including the facility’s involvement in the traumatic process of tearing baby big cats, chimpanzees, and other animals away from their mothers so that they can be used in public encounters—make it clear that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must act without delay to terminate the federal license that keeps this scandal-plagued roadside zoo operating.
PETA is working to shut down Myrtle Beach Safari and ensure that the exploited big cats, chimpanzees, and other animals still imprisoned there are released to reputable facilities where they will get the care they so desperately need and deserve.
The best thing you can do to help animals like those at Myrtle Beach Safari is to never visit roadside zoos or support them on social media.
