A tiger at the Growler Pines sanctuary in Hugo, Oklahoma, suddenly attacked and killed its trainer, Ryan Easley, in front of an audience on Saturday.
The investigation continued on Monday to determine what prompted the tiger to attack and kill its trainer during a performance at the animal sanctuary in Oklahoma over the weekend, authorities said.
The incident occurred Saturday evening at the Growler Pines sanctuary in Hugo, a town in southeastern Oklahoma near the Texas border, claiming the life of 37-year-old Ryan Easley, the sanctuary’s owner, Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park told ABC News.
Easley and the tiger were performing before an audience when the animal turned on him, attacked, and killed him.
“It happened near the end of the show, in front of people who saw everything. No one but God knows what prompted the tiger to attack the trainer,” Park said in a phone interview.
Park stated that the tiger, which Easley had raised since it was a cub, bit Easley on the neck and shoulder, likely killing him instantly.
The sheriff added that Easley’s wife and young daughter were among the witnesses of the attack and that when the tiger moved away from Easley, his wife rushed into the cage and moved the animal into another enclosure.
The incident was reported around 2 p.m. on Saturday. Sheriff’s deputies, along with Hugo police officers and the Choctaw County EMS team, quickly arrived at the scene, but Easley was already dead when they arrived. His body was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Tulsa for an autopsy.
The agency that licensed the sanctuary also conducted an investigation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the oversight body that issued the license and conducted inspections at the facility. According to the sanctuary, the USDA had carried out 32 surprise inspections of ShowMe Tigers and Growler Pines without finding any violations, with the most recent inspection on January 13, 2025.
Growler Pines posted a statement on its Facebook page on Sunday confirming Ryan Easley’s death:
“With deep sadness, we confirm the tragic passing of Ryan Easley, who lost his life in an accident involving a tiger under his care. Ryan was a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation. His love for animals, especially big cats, was evident in every aspect of his life. He dedicated his life to protecting and caring for these magnificent creatures and deeply believed in Growler Pines’ mission to provide a safe and permanently enriching home for the animals under his care. Growler Pines was not just a workplace for Ryan; it was his calling, his passion, and the purpose of his life.”
Before opening his sanctuary, Easley ran ShowMe Tigers, a circus act with tigers that toured the U.S. The organization Humane World for Animals stated that Easley owned ten tigers and obtained young ones from Joseph Maldonado, known as “Joe Exotic,” the former owner of a zoo in Oklahoma and the main figure in Netflix’s documentary series Tiger King. Joe Exotic is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for murder-for-hire conspiracy and killing and selling tigers.
“Ryan Easley’s death was tragic and preventable. We hope it will serve as a warning about the danger and cruelty of others who continue to use dangerous wild animals for entertainment,” said Laura Hagen, director for captive animals at Humane World for Animals.
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Source: ABC News, Foto: Printscreen Instagram @growlerpinestigerpreserve