An animal caretaker was killed by a tiger at a wildlife preserve in Oklahoma over the weekend.
Growler Pines Tiger Preserve confirmed that Ryan Easley was killed during “an accident” involving a tiger under his care at the Hugo, Oklahoma, property on Saturday (September 20) in a statement shared on its Facebook account Sunday (September 22).
“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 on September 20th, 2025,” the organization wrote. “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 the protection and care of these magnificent animals, and he believed deeply in the mission of Growler Pines- to provide a safe and forever enriching home for the animals under his care. Growler Pines was more than just a place of work for Ryan, it was his calling, his passion and his life’s purpose. His courage, compassion and unwavering commitment to wildlife will never be forgotten.
“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 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.”
Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, which is a private facility that offers booked tours for spectators, confirmed that all tours were canceled until further notice in its statement. Easley was reportedly attacked while performing an act with the tiger for his traveling show, ‘ShowMe Tigers,’ the Choctaw County Sheriff confirmed to KXII.
An investigator for the animal rights group Humane World for Animals reportedly spent weeks undercover working and traveling with ShowMeTigers, according to a statement obtained by CNN.
“Ryan Easley’s death was a sad and preventable tragedy,” the group said.
Easley was reported to have gotten his tigers from Joseph ‘Joe Exotic‘ Maldonado and Bhagavan ‘Dog‘ Antle, both of whom were chronicled in the Netflix docuseries Tiger King. The Tigers boarded at Maldonado’s zoo when they weren’t touring in the winter, PETA confirmed in a statement shared in response to Easley’s death.
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